Olive Oil Imports Estimated to Rise by 40%

Olive oil imports are estimated to reach 8,000 tons by the end of the current Iranian year (March 20, 2018), which will register an over 40% rise compared with those of last year, the head of National Olive Project with the Ministry of Agriculture said.

Ahmad Mostakhdemi added that the import of raw or processed olives into the country is banned, Mehr News Agency reported.

“We predict that this year, around 85,000 tons of olives will be produced in the country, which will register a decline compared with last year due to climate change and frost. Close to 70% of this amount will be processed into olive conserves and the rest will be used to produce olive oil,” he said.

Mostakhdemi noted that there are 85,000 hectares of olive orchards in Iran, 50% of which bear fruit.

"Plans are aimed at increasing olive production to around 200,000 tons by 2022 and increase per capita consumption of olive oil from the current 130 grams to 190 grams per year," he said.

According to the International Olive Council, Iran is a major olive producer, ranking 11th from among 43 major olive producers across the world.

Leading olive growing regions in Iran include Fars, Kerman, Hormozgan, Sistan-Baluchestan, Qazvin, Gilan, Golestan and Zanjan provinces.