Business · Energy & Commodities · 5 hrs ago
Turkish olive growers face losses as prices fall and costs rise
Olive producers in Edremit, western Turkey, say this is their hardest year as prices fall and costs rise.
Edremit Chamber of Commerce head Ahmet Çetin says some farmers may leave olives unpicked because harvesting costs exceed what they can earn.
He expects Turkey’s olive oil crop to reach about 500,000 tonnes, though the amount has not been officially announced.
Many trees are not suited to machine harvesting, so producers rely on costly manual labour.
Çetin is asking the government for at least 50 lira per litre in olive oil support to help farmers cover losses and encourage sales to be invoiced.
He also wants export support, saying roughly 200,000 tonnes of oil remain from each production period and need overseas markets.
The chamber has requested meetings with government ministries, hoping for action before the harvest season is put at greater risk.
Turkish olive growers face low prices, high input costs and expensive harvesting, prompting warnings that some may leave olives unpicked.
Ahmet Çetin, head of the Edremit Chamber of Commerce, said producers could lose money even if they harvest the olives themselves.
Çetin called for a state premium of at least 50 Turkish lira per litre of olive oil and support for exporters.
He said this year’s olive oil harvest could reach about 500,000 tonnes.
Growers in Akhisar have stopped harvesting, and buyers are not purchasing, Çetin said.
- Who
- Turkish olive growers, including producers in Akhisar, are affected.
- What
- Growers face low prices and rising costs; Edremit Chamber of Commerce head Ahmet Çetin called for government support.
- When
- During the current olive harvest season; the article was published on October 14, 2026.
- Where
- Turkey, including Edremit and Akhisar.
- Why
- Low prices, high input and harvesting costs, high expected production and weak international prices are squeezing producers.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Cost pressures in olive production began to become more pronounced.
The 3rd Edremit Olive Oil Tasting Festival, FestOlive, was held on the Güre coast.
Çetin said low prices risk leaving olives on the trees and that producers in Akhisar had stopped harvesting.
- Expected olive oil harvest
- About 500,000 tonnes
- Requested producer premium
- At least 50 Turkish lira per litre
- Olive oil price at retailers
- 220–230 Turkish lira per kilogram
- Olive wage
- About 2,000 Turkish lira per day, according to Çetin
What people are saying
Producers, let alone hiring workers, would lose money even if they picked the olives themselves
The prices formed today are an insult to the producer; there can be no such figure
A premium per litre must absolutely be given