Olive and Olive Oil Exports Decline 28% in Nine Months

October 29, 2026 · Tarım Pusulası

Turkey's olive and olive oil export revenue fell 28% to $273 million in the first nine months of 2026, while sector representatives are demanding the removal of market access barriers ahead of the new harvest.

Significant Decline in Export Revenues

Turkey's olive and olive oil exports experienced a significant downturn in the January-September period of 2026. According to data from the Aegean Olive and Olive Oil Exporters' Association, the sector's total export revenue decreased by 28% compared to the same period last year, falling to $273 million. The total export revenue, which was recorded at $381 million in the first nine months of 2025, thus suffered a net loss of $108 million. Export volume simultaneously decreased from 121,000 tons to 87,000 tons.

Sales Losses Across Product Categories

The contraction in export items was felt across all sub-product categories. Black olive exports fell by 14% in volume to 48.1 thousand tons and by 9% in value to $127 million. Green olive exports decreased by 19% to 14.4 thousand tons, while revenue from this product declined by 11% to $41.3 million. Olive oil, affected by global price fluctuations and past restrictions, saw its volume drop by 53% to 15.7 thousand tons and its revenue fall by 48% to $82.1 million. Pomace oil exports decreased by 40% in both volume and value, reaching 8.6 thousand tons and $22.8 million, respectively.

New Harvest and Global Competition

M. Emre Uygun, Chairman of the Aegean Olive and Olive Oil Exporters' Association, reported that field data indicates a high yield for table olives and olive oil in the 2026/27 season. However, Uygun noted that high yields are also expected in producer countries within the Mediterranean basin, such as Spain, Italy, Greece, and Tunisia, which could intensify global competition. The sector aims to support exports by focusing on packaged products through the OLIVEtoLIVE UR-GE project, fairs, and trade delegations. Uygun stated that they aim to maintain the current level in 2027 and reach $1 billion in exports in the medium term.

Market Access and Quota Demands

M. Emre Uygun, calling for the removal of trade barriers hindering exports, emphasized the need to end the additional 12.5% customs duty applied to Turkish olives and olive oil in the US market. While a demand has been made to increase Turkey's current symbolic olive oil quota of 100 tons in the European Union to at least 60,000 tons, zero customs duty is sought in the ongoing free trade agreement negotiations with the United Kingdom. Addressing rising input costs and difficulties in accessing finance, Uygun stated that these issues must be resolved urgently to transform the increase in yield into a tangible gain.

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