Stating that the restrictions on the export of bulk and barreled olive oil did not reduce the prices in the domestic market, but also caused a 30 percent increase in olive oil prices. Aegean Olive and Olive Oil Exporters Association Bashkanı Davut ErHe noted that Turkey suffered a loss of prestige and foreign exchange in export markets after the restrictions on olive oil exports, and that the bans should be lifted as soon as possible.

Speaking at the Olive and Olive Oil Sector Meeting and the Stars of Olive and Olive Oil Export Award Ceremony, EZZİB President Davut Er said that Turkey entered the 2022/23 season with a stock of 50 thousand tons of olive oil, the yield was calculated as 380 thousand tons, and 50 thousand tons of olive oil coming from Afrin. He underlined that when taken into consideration, 480 thousand tons of olive oil has been reached, there is 160 thousand tons of domestic consumption and 150 thousand tons of export, the new season has entered the new season with 170 thousand tons of excess stock, 2023 thousand tons of yield is expected in the 24/179 season, and there is no problem in the olive oil supply.

“I would like to emphasize once again that there is no reason to panic in Turkey's olive oil supply,” said Er, adding: “Prices have increased by approximately 30 percent since the restriction application. Olive oils kept in warehouses because they could not be exported were exposed to deterioration due to hot weather and adverse storage conditions, acidity and other valuable properties were damaged, high quality extra virgin oils were turned into refining oils, causing a 30 percent loss in value. "The restriction in question did not produce any positive results in both the domestic market and exports," he said.

Our main goal is to increase packaged exports 

Emphasizing that their main goal is to increase exports with high value-added packaging, Er continued his words as follows; “Our companies have to meet different demands that may come from importers. Companies operating in the catering and canning industry around the world procure a significant amount of olive oil in bulk from our country to be used in their own production. On the other hand, there are buyers who demand both boxed and bulk goods, and selling only boxed olive oil to these companies and expecting them to meet their bulk demands from other countries means a complete loss of these buyers. As you know, one of the most frequently put forward claims regarding bulk olive oil exports is that we gain an advantage by selling products to other producing countries, especially Spain and Italy, during periods when their production is low. For this reason, there is also a group that supports the export ban. However, we think that this approach is not correct. We observe that not only Spain but also consumer countries such as the USA, Canada and Saudi Arabia are among our most important markets in our bulk olive oil exports. "When we ban the export of bulk olive oil, by restricting our exports to these countries, by saying not to supply goods to our competitors, we are directly handing over these important markets to these rival countries."

We are close to our 1 billion dollar export target

Stating that Turkey's table olive exports increased from 2022 million dollars to 23 million dollars in the 7/172 season with a 184 percent increase compared to the previous season, President Er continued his words as follows: “In the 31/2022 olive oil export season, which ends on October 23, 118 We exported to the country, and our total olive oil exports increased by 158% in amount, from 58 thousand tons to 150 thousand tons, and in amount, by 259%, from 201 million dollars to 723 million dollars. Our total sector exports reached 947 million dollars and our sector has gained a very important place in world markets. We aim to increase our exports, which approached 2023 billion dollars in 1, to 5 billion dollars in the next 2 years. “To achieve this goal, we need to adopt not only existing traditional methods, but also sustainable modern production techniques that are environmentally friendly, energy efficient and comply with social responsibility principles.”

Olive oil has limited impact on food inflation

Touching on the fact that the effect of olive oil on food inflation is quite limited, EZZİB President Davut Er said, “According to FAO data, per capita consumption of vegetable oil in our country is approximately 25 kg per year, while olive oil consumption is below 2 kg. The people who prefer olive oil in our country are generally our consumers who have a certain income level and live in the regions where the product is produced. "For this reason, it seems that frequently imposed restrictions, instead of controlling food inflation, negatively affect producers and sellers and further narrow the market," he said.

Gultepe; “We exported 11 billion dollars in 233 months”

Speaking at the Olive and Olive Oil Sector Meeting and Award Ceremony Turkey Exporters Assembly Bashkanı Mustafa GultepeHe shared the information that Turkey will reach approximately 100 billion dollars of exports in the 2023 months of 11, when we celebrate the 233th anniversary of our Republic.

“Considering the earthquake disaster, the contraction in global markets, and the serious blood loss in some of our sectors, I can say that we have achieved a significant success,” said Gültepe, adding, “We will close the year with goods exports of over 255 billion dollars. There is serious blood loss in some of our sectors. Olives and Olive Oil are among our sectors that will shine in 2023. Last year, we had an olive oil export of 500 million dollars. We are performing much more successfully this year. Our 11-month olive oil exports increased by more than 112 percent, reaching 833 million dollars. In November, olive oil became our fifth sector that increased its unit exports the most. The unit export value, which was 2,8 dollars last year, increased by 2023 percent and reached 36,4 dollars in 3,8. Yes, there is a significant increase compared to last year. But we can reach much higher unit values ​​for a product such as olive oil. "We can only achieve this by branding and focusing on promotional activities," he said.

Pointing out that different restrictions or surveillance are made on export products from time to time, Gültepe concluded his words as follows; “It happens not only in the olive growing sector but also in other sectors. During the pandemic period, it does a lot of things for other sectors, such as textiles. From time to time, such practices occur in Turkey in order for citizens to have better access to more affordable prices. I hope it will be temporary. Thanks to the struggles we have made, I hope we will get very good results together in a shorter time. We also support the studies to be carried out especially for our olives and olive oil.

Economist Prof. Dr. Yaşar UysalWhile making a presentation titled "Developments in the World and Turkish Economy", he underlined that Turkey is struggling with inflation 6 times higher than its competitors among developing countries and that it has to be successful in the fight against inflation in order to maintain its competitiveness.

In the panel titled "World and Turkey in Olive Cultivation: Sectoral Review and Future Perspectives", IZTECH Lecturer Prof. Dr. Alper Baba, Ekonomi Newspaper Agriculture Writer Ali Ekber Yıldırım, Writer and Brand Consultant Altay Ayhan, and Aegean Olive and Olive Oil Exporters Association Board Member Levent Bilginoğulları evaluated the current developments in the olive and olive oil sector.

The companies that exported the most and won awards in the table olive and olive oil sectors in 2022 among the members of the Aegean Olive and Olive Oil Exporters Association are as follows.

Source: HORECA TREND and Aegean Olive and Olive Oil Exporters Association