Domestic canned olive production is expected to decline by 30-40% in the current Iranian year (March 2016-17), due to the cold spell experienced at the beginning of the year, according to Iran Olive Council. Last year, 100,000 tons of olives were produced, 70-80% of which were used to make conserves and the rest headed to oil-extracting factories, says the council, adding that per capita olive oil consumption in Iran amounts to 200 grams. Every year, depending on weather conditions, between 2,000 and 5,000 tons of the 16,000 tons of domestic demand for olive oil is produced locally, while 4,000 tons are imported and the rest is smuggled into the country, Young Journalists Club reported.
