Business · Energy & Commodities · 8 hrs ago
Spain allows olive oil withdrawals to support prices
Spain’s Agriculture Ministry has activated a plan to remove olive oil from the market during the 2026–27 season.
The measure is intended to limit supply and steady prices paid to farmers, not to set a retail price.
A strong harvest is expected to reach 1.6 million tonnes, about 23% more than last season and the fourth-largest crop on record in Spain.
Starting stocks were also 23.3% higher than a year earlier, taking the combined supply estimate above the level needed to use the mechanism.
Extra virgin oil is selling to farmers for under €3 per litre, which producers say does not cover their costs.
The plan allows a share of oil to be held back until the next season or directed to non-food use.
The ministry will set the withdrawal percentage before 15 November, and may revise it based on storage results and the effect on market stability.
Spain has published a rule allowing olive oil to be withdrawn from the market during the 2026/2027 campaign to help stabilize prices.
The ministry will set the withdrawal percentage before 15 November, and operators will decide which category of oil to withdraw.
The measure was activated after estimated production and starting stocks exceeded the threshold set by the rules.
Production is forecast at 1,602,596 tonnes, while starting stocks stood at 357,040 tonnes.
Olive growers have welcomed the move, while industry opposition to the measure was reported without further detail.
- Who
- Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture published the rule; olive oil operators will determine which category of oil to withdraw.
- What
- The rule allows a percentage of olive oil to be withdrawn from the market to regulate supply and stabilize the market.
- When
- The rule was published on 30 October 2026 for the 2026/2027 campaign. The ministry will set the percentage before 15 November.
- Where
- Spain.
- Why
- Forecast production and starting stocks exceeded the threshold for activating the mechanism, and the measure aims to stabilize the market.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture published the commercialisation rule for the 2026/2027 olive oil campaign.
The ministry is due to set the percentage of oil to be withdrawn for the rest of the campaign.
- Campaign
- 2026/2027
- Forecast production
- 1,602,596 tonnes
- Starting stocks
- 357,040 tonnes, recorded on 28 October
- Production change
- 23% above the previous campaign
- Stocks change
- 23.3% above the previous campaign
- Threshold
- Starting stocks plus estimated production must reach 120% of the six-campaign average
3 sources
Agricultura permite por primera vez retirar del mercado aceite de oliva para estabilizar su precio
El Gobierno prepara la retirada de aceite ante el aumento de producción y decidirá el porcentaje antes del 15 de noviembre
El Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación publica la norma de comercialización del aceite de oliva para la campaña 2026-2027
What people are saying
in a campaign that has just begun, extra virgin olive oil does not cover production costs because it does not reach three euros
The order aims to regulate supply to improve and stabilize the functioning of the olive oil sector
Posts on X
El objetivo de esta orden es regular la oferta para mejorar y estabilizar el funcionamiento del sector del aceite de oliva. ↓