2022 set to be a record year for table olive exports

Table olive exports have been growing dynamically in recent years, a trend that was confirmed in 2022, which, according to estimates, is expected to be a record year in terms of export value.

According to provisional management data from the National Interprofessional Organization of Table Olives (DOEPEL), between January and October 2022, the country's table olive exports reached a value of €565 million and a quantity of 193,000 tons, while in the same period of 2021, Greek exports stood at €456 million and 217,000 tons, respectively.

According to forecasts, the value of exports will exceed €600 million in 2022, compared to €565 million in 2021, making it a record year.

«Greek table olives are among our country's leading agricultural exports. It is worth noting that the product is almost exclusively export-oriented—almost 90% of annual domestic production is exported—with the first exports (200 tons) recorded in 1858,» said Kostas Zoukas, President of the Panhellenic Union of Table Olive Processors, Standardizers, and Exporters (PEMETE), to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, adding that «exports of this product account for 9.21% of the country's total agricultural exports, with a value of €100 million. Kostas Zoukas, adding »Exports of this product account for 9.21% of the country's total agricultural exports, with its value more than doubling over the last decade, which is a particularly significant achievement and underlines its export potential, ranking Greece second in the world in table olive exports.".

Greek table olives are exported mainly to third countries (55%+), with European Union markets absorbing approximately 40-45% of Greek exports.

According to Mr. Zouka, «for the year 2022, at the country level, the United States is by far the leading export country in terms of volume (€173 million in exports), followed by Germany (€60 million), Italy (€42 million), the United Kingdom (€31 million), Australia, the Netherlands, Canada, France, Belgium, and Poland.

«The shortage of agricultural workers is a problem»

The problems caused in the sector by the lack of labor are serious, something that has been pointed out by almost all professionals in the primary sector.

As the President of PEME told APE-MPE, other European countries such as «Spain, Germany, and Italy have removed all bureaucratic obstacles, attracting Albanian and Pakistani farm workers who are leaving our country.».

On the contrary, as he says, «Greece seems to show no intention of addressing their shortage, which threatens to leave a large part of the agricultural harvest unharvested.»

From the perspective of the Interprofessional Association, as it emphasizes, «the relevant ministries have been made aware of the ineffectiveness of the existing procedure (bureaucracy, fees, expenses, etc.) and the immediate need to change, initially, the method of calculating the ratio of land workers to arable land, in order to resolve the problem of the lack of land workers and the resulting increase in the cost of agricultural production.» etc.) and the urgent need to change, initially, the method of calculating the ratio of farm workers to arable land, in order to solve the problem of labor shortages on farms.".

Climate change

The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly apparent, with a significant impact on the primary sector. As far as the olive cultivation sector is concerned, despite the fact that the olive tree is quite resistant to Mediterranean climates, there are concerns about the effects of climate change on their flowering and productivity and, consequently, on olive production.

«Most studies converge on the conclusion that the effects on olive cultivation will be negative, mainly due to long periods of drought, increasing the sterility of olive trees,» Mr. Zoukas told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, adding, «We believe that the available and ever-evolving know-how will be an ally in the joint effort to address and prevent the effects of climate change, so that olive cultivation and agriculture in general can flourish once again under the difficult conditions of climate change.».

Goals for the future

With all indications pointing to a bright future for Greek table olives, the President of PEME describes the actions that need to be taken to continue the product's upward trajectory.

«We must insist on producing high-quality products and continue to improve their quality characteristics in the primary sector with care and dedication. At the same time, at the processing level, we must ensure that we renew the forms of the final product with new recipes and packaging, targeting new markets and at the same time making an effort through new investments to reduce costs.».

According to him, the promotion and information programs carried out by PEME over the last 20 years have resulted in the «opening» of new markets and the create a recognizable Greek brand name for the country's world-famous table olive varieties (Amfissa, Kalamata, Chalkidiki).

Mr. Zoukas told APE-MPA that PEME seeks the harmonious and parallel development of the primary sector because only through this process will the availability and required quality of primary products be ensured, which are necessary conditions for the development of the sector.

«With the same energy and efficiency, we will continue our successful promotion of Greek table olives, always staying one step ahead of our competitors, generating added value and benefits that will be distributed across all sectors and entities in the industry, contributing to the strengthening of employment and the increase of agricultural and national income,» he concluded.

Th. Papakostas