Campo Maior, Portalegre, Portugal, May 21, 2025 (Lusa) - Exports of olive oil from Portugal are expected to exceed €1 billion in value in 2024, which would be for the second consecutive year and is considered ‘historic’ for the sector, an official said on Wednesday.
According to Gonçalo Morais Tristão, president of the Alentejo Olive Oil Study and Promotion Centre (CEPAAL), speaking to the Lusa news agency today, in 2023, the value of exports had already exceeded €1 billion and, in 2024, "should have been around the same figures".
"It is historic because breaking the €1 billion barrier, especially in two consecutive years, is very important for the sector," which is based on "two types of exports," bulk olive oil and packaged olive oil, he stressed.
Gonçalo Morais Tristão was speaking to Lusa about the National Olive Oil Congress (CNA) and the National Olive Growing Fair (FNO), events that will take place from Thursday in Campo Maior, in the district of Portalegre, in eastern Portugal.
In terms of bulk olive oil, according to the president of CEPAAL, exports continue "mainly to Spain and Italy", while for packaged olive oil with a Portuguese brand, "the main customer is Brazil".
CEPAAL, referring to the latest data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) for this month, indicated that the 2024/2025 olive oil campaign saw an increase in production of around 10% compared to the previous year, reaching 177,000 tonnes (previously 150,000).
In this sense, 2024 is considered "the second best year ever", with olive oil production of "almost two million hectolitres".
According to CEPAAL, this year there has been a downward adjustment in consumer prices, compared to last year's price increases, of around ‘40%’ for a bottle of extra virgin olive oil.
"The reduction in prices is beneficial because it may lead to increased consumption. The rise in prices caused a slight reduction in consumption, which is not what producers want, but prices cannot fall to [figures] that do not cover some production costs," noted Gonçalo Morais Tristão.
Portugal is already the sixth largest olive oil producer in the world and the third largest exporter in Europe, according to CEPAAL.
After almost 20 years of absence, the National Olive Growing Fair returns to the border town of Campo Maior, accompanied for the first time by the National Olive Oil Congress.
The events, promoted by the local council and CEPAAL, will take place in the municipal gardens between Thursday and Sunday, while the congress will be held in the cultural centre on Thursday and Friday.
The National Olive Growing Fair has an exhibition space of "more than 300 square metres, with around 50 exhibitors", and is committed to a programme that brings together knowledge, culture, entertainment and animation around the "celebration and enhancement" of the olive-growing heritage.
The Alentejo accounts for almost 90% of national olive oil production, with the region having "more than 209,000 hectares of olive groves, more than 116 olive mills and more than 95%" of virgin and extra virgin olive oil produced.
The National Olive Oil Congress will feature more than 30 national and international speakers, who will discuss topics such as new challenges for the sector, the identity of Portuguese olive oil, the path of olive oil in haute cuisine, among others.
The event, under the High Patronage of the country's president, will also bring together a panel of chefs and hotel and tourism schools.
HYT/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
