Business · Energy & Commodities · 2 days ago
Spanish olive oil producers debate temporary stock withdrawals
Spain’s olive oil campaign runs from October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027, and producers are debating a new rule for managing supply.
It would allow some oil to be temporarily taken off the market when available supplies reach 120% of demand.
Producer groups support the measure, saying it could help prevent farm prices from falling too far.
They say prices have dropped recently and are below average production costs.
Bottlers and exporters oppose the plan, warning it could push up prices for consumers and harm Spain’s position as a leading producer.
They argue that the sector needs a longer-term strategy, including opening and maintaining export markets.
Spain’s agriculture ministry is expected to decide in mid-November.
Spanish olive oil producers are debating a temporary withdrawal of some oil from the market to limit falls in prices paid to producers.
Asaja, COAG, UPA and Cooperativas Agroalimentarias support the measure, while bottlers and exporters oppose it.
The measure would apply only when available olive oil exceeded demand by 20%, according to a producers’ representative.
Bottlers and exporters warn that withdrawals could raise prices for consumers and harm Spain’s position as a leading producer.
Spain’s Agriculture Ministry is due to decide in mid-November.
- Who
- Spanish olive oil producers, bottlers and exporters are debating the measure.
- What
- The proposal would temporarily withdraw some olive oil from the market to help support producer prices.
- When
- The debate concerns the campaign that began on 1 October and runs until 30 September 2027. The Agriculture Ministry is expected to decide in mid-November.
- Where
- Spain.
- Why
- Supporters say withdrawals could improve the balance between supply and demand and limit price falls. Opponents warn of market distortion, higher consumer prices and harm to Spain’s production leadership.
Olive oil producers
Bottlers and exporters
Purpose
Olive oil producers
Producers’ groups support temporary withdrawals to help prevent producer prices from collapsing.
Bottlers and exporters
Bottlers and exporters say the measure is only a short-term response and does not solve the sector’s longer-term challenges.
Market impact
Olive oil producers
Cooperativas Agroalimentarias’ Rafael Sánchez de Puerta says the measure would apply only when availability reached 120% of demand.
Bottlers and exporters
ANIERAC’s Primitivo Fernández warns of market distortion and higher prices for consumers.
Spain’s position
Olive oil producers
Producers’ groups argue the measure can help steady the market.
Bottlers and exporters
Exporters say the global market cannot be regulated as if Spain were the only producing country.
The olive oil campaign began; it is set to run until 30 September 2027.
20minutos reported the debate over temporary olive oil withdrawals.
The Agriculture Ministry is expected to decide on the measure.
- Campaign period
- 1 October to 30 September 2027
- Decision
- Expected in mid-November
- Withdrawal threshold
- 120% of existing demand
- Price change
- Olive oil reportedly fell by €0.30 per litre at the farm level in the previous month
- Reported prices
- Extra virgin: €3.30 per litre; lampante: €2.90 per litre
What people are saying
improve the balance between supply and demand, trying to hold prices steady or make them fall as little as possible
a short-term response, which is of no use at all in the long or medium term
a distortion of the market and, domestically, we are going to have a rise in prices
olive oil is a global market, which we cannot regulate as if Spain were the only producing country
Sources
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