Is There An Olive Oil Shortage In 2024? Are you still looking in the pantry, finding no bottle of olive oil, and searching for it in the store, but all efforts have yet to succeed? Aren’t you? If yes, we are sorry to tell you that you’re just wasting your time. Do you know? Why? Let’s find out!!
Sadly, we are going to announce that there is an olive oil shortage in 2024. So, whether you are looking for conventional olive oil, organic olive oil, or extra virgin olive oil, all are short in supply and expected to raise their prices in 2024.
Generally, you may also not find them in some stores due to their severe shortage.
Yes!! We know olive oil is considered liquid gold when making your own salad dressing, pasta, bread, baked goods, and many more. Whatever you want to make, Olive oil is a crucial ingredient in preparing various items at home, in restaurants, etc.
Olive oil is used in a considerable amount in every house; we cannot get through two or three days without using it. It is like a pantry staple in every household.
But you will be surprised to know that you may find difficulty while buying because its high demand & low production have led to an olive oil shortage.
If you have not been aware of the news, olive oil will be in short supply in 2024. Then this blog is just for you, where we have covered almost everything about the Olive Oil shortage, the reason behind it, its prices, recommended alternatives, its health benefits, and several more.
Olive oil is commonly referred to as “liquid gold.” It has long been known for its health benefits and vital place in Mediterranean cuisine. However, this golden staple has recently been facing a serious crisis. It has become less available, pushing its costs to new highs and creating major challenges.
This shortage is exacerbated by climate change and other factors. It has alarmed both customers and industry experts, raising concerns about food insecurity and its financial effects. This article dives into the causes of the shortage, its impact on prices, and its effects on the future.
Let’s go through this blog post quickly!!
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The olive oil crisis begins to unfold
Olive oil is a mainstay of the Mediterranean diet. However, it is currently facing serious shortages. Experts blame this on the extreme weather brought on by climate change, which is affecting southern Europe’s main production regions, including Spain, Italy, and Greece.
Also, olive oil prices have reached all-time highs. Thus, it is shocking to both customers and industry veterans. Vito Martinelli, a senior analyst at Rabobank, stated,
“This is not usual,” stresses the current market’s peculiar nature. Several reasons have led to the shortage, the most notable of which are extreme weather and climate change.
Spain is the world’s largest producer of olive oil, and it has been especially affected. Typically, Spain generates 1.3 million to 1.5 million metric tons of olive oil per harvest. However, the latest figures show a significant decline to around 666,000 metric tons during the 2022–2023 season. Production is expected to rise slightly to between 830,000 and 850,000 metric tons in the 2023–2024 season, But this is still considerably less than historical averages.
The decrease in production has caused prices to skyrocket. In Andalusia, Spain, the cost of extra virgin olive oil hit an all-time high of €9.2 per kilogram in January 2024 before dropping slightly to €7.8 in April 2024. Good rains in March and April temporarily reduced prices. But the market remains uncertain. Analysts attribute the price fluctuation to reducing reserves and widespread concern about future supplies.
How has climate change led to the crisis?
The olive oil crisis is tightly linked to climate change. Extreme weather events have occurred in southern Europe, particularly in Mediterranean countries. These conditions include lengthy droughts and heat waves, which significantly affected olive tree production. Helena Bennett is head of climate policy at Green Alliance UK. She said that Spain has seen production cut in half due to similar weather extremes.
According to the European Environment Agency’s regional research, high global warming might devastate European agriculture. Olive trees are particularly prone to these changes. The rising temperatures and changes in rainfall have resulted in drier soils and less moisture. It is leaving olive trees prone to pests and diseases.
Kyle Holland is an analyst at Mintec who pointed out the seriousness of the situation. He stated that the climate is becoming warmer, which is increasing problems such as less rain, drier soils, and greater pest activity. These issues make it more difficult for olive oil producers to maintain their crops, resulting in large losses.
Olive oil theft
The rising value of olive oil has increased thefts. In Spain, olive oil has become one of the most stolen goods from supermarkets. Criminal gangs are targeting this profitable product to resell on the illegal market. In one crucial occurrence, almost 50,000 liters of extra virgin olive oil, valued at over 420,000 euros, were stolen from an oil factory in the Cordoba region.
Rising prices have also led to a rise in fraud and forgery cases. Customers are often warned to exercise caution when purchasing olive oil based on its origin and authenticity. Vincent Ricchiuti, the founder of Enzo Olive Oil in California, encouraged customers to check the harvest date and look for certification to ensure that they were purchasing genuine products.
The global impact
The crisis affected Europe and the United States, a major olive oil importer. Retail costs in the United States have steadily increased, with olive oil costing about $9.92 per bottle. The increase results from worldwide shortages and rising demand for this crucial cooking oil.
The United States relies heavily on imports to meet its olive oil consumption. Its domestic production accounts for only a portion of the total need. As a result, disruptions to the global supply chain have a direct impact on American customers. These include issues such as poor harvests in Spain and export restrictions in Turkey.
Why Is There An Olive Oil Shortage In 2024?
Yes, There is an Olive Oil Shortage In 2024. There are several possible reasons for an olive oil shortage in 2024. Let’sLet’s get rolling to know the reason behind it. One of the primary reasons for the shortage of olive oil is that in 2022, during the summer, there was an apocalypse of heatwaves and droughts that significantly impacted the oil-producing locations in Europe.
When Olive oil-producing regions were affected by natural calamities during the summer of 2022, it affected their production rate. This led to a lower supply of olive oil due to the suboptimal harvest season.
Another reason is there were smaller harvests in Spain. Spain is the world’s largest producer of olive oil; it is estimated that more than half of its production is produced in Spain and Italy.
Olive oil production has been affected, and all vegetable oil production has been reduced. Similarly, the sunflower oil supply is diminished because the war affected its production in Ukraine. Sunflower oil is produced mainly in Ukraine, the world’sworld’s largest producer.
This year, there is no ray of hope that the Harvest will become much better. One of the representatives of one olive producer said, “There is volatility in olive oil production in the world because we are dealing with a changing climate, and it is going to affect olive oil production around the world. Climate change is the major reason for the shortage of olive oil. The uncertain temperature patterns, bad crops, increasing intensity, crops are not facing the same predictable environment to build businesses and infrastructure around.”
Olive Oil Price Increases in 2024?
Olive Oil Prices increased due to its shortage and rising demand. It is estimated that the average price increased by 27 percent a couple of years ago for Italian virgin olive oil.
There is no hope that the condition will improve in the future.
The increased prices of olive oil also affected the cost of several food items. Some restaurants and stores have already raised the price of their item’sitem’s price that contains olive oil. It may also affect the cost of other restaurants’ food items, including Starbucks.
Olive oil prices have already shot up in some countries, but now the condition is the same in Spain, the leading olive oil producer. Netherlands and Greece are believed to be the most affected locations where the most significant price rises were recorded. It was noted that its retail prices increased by more than a quarter compared to the previous year.
The biggest olive oil market outside of the U.S., i.e., Filippo Berio’sBerio’s extra virgin olive oil, costs around 5 to 5.76 pounds, which was 3.75 pounds a few months back in the same year.
When consumers know about the price hike, their behavior changes, and they are up in arms as prices of olive oil have inevitably spiked.
While clearing up all the points, one of the olive manufacturers said, “We are facing one of the toughest times ever in the history of the olive oil industry.”
The CEO of one olive oil producer said, “Due to extreme weather conditions, all the biggest olive oil producing countries were affected, and there is no ray of hope that when will the situation be normalizing, but for now, the situation is too difficult.”
It is estimated that the world will be scarce of olive oil, and the remaining stock is still there on the shelves of stores, and their prices spike.
The prices of olive oil shot up the Americans, and now they have risen up to 30 percent to 50 percent. Prices vary depending on the market.
Which Country Produces Olive Oil?
Spain is the largest producer and manufacturer of olive oil worldwide. Spain has supplied almost half the world with olive oil for several decades.
There are other larger producers of olive oil, including Italy, Tunisia, Greece, Morocco, and Turkey.
What Olive Oil Producers Are Expecting For 2024 Harvest?
Nothing can fill this gap because climate change is significant, and we may not be able to get back on track for some years.
Davis, the CEO of one olive oil producer, said, “Olive produces by the trees as it grows on them, and if we stress on the trees for more production, it will harm us and become a severe problem. Much like orange trees in Florida. Because tree damage can extend this problem and hurt olive production in the future, so, we can produce bumper crops in 2023 across the Mediterranean.”
He also added, “These countries (Mediterranean countries) generally harvest olives for oil production in November and December. We hope for better production by late 2023 and early 2024 until the shortage won’twon’t end.”
Is Olive Oil Still Available?
However, there is a severe shortage of olive oil, but we’re not saying it has gone completely. No, Olive Oil is still there, and you can find them both in stores and online.
Due to shortage, you’veyou’ve to pay higher prices for the same quantity, but you can find them at Amazon, eBay, and several other websites or in the nearest store in your locality.
You can buy green olives, black olives, olive oil, olive slices, and other items online.
You may get a sigh of relief after getting this news. Right… And Why not? Olive oil is precious; it is called liquid gold, not just like that.
Recommended Alternatives To Olive Oil
The world’sworld’s largest supplier of olive oil is Spain; it supplies around 80 percent of oil in the world. But now, the olive harvest in Spain has been reduced to 50 percent. The reports said the country needs more oil and cannot resupply it worldwide, and its supply had been shot by the end of the last year.
We know nothing can replace olive oil; it’sit’s no wonder it’sit’s such a popular choice. But we are in such a condition where we have to manage things accordingly. So, here we’ve given a list of olive oil substitutes that can be proven to be the healthiest oils; these are as follows:
- Avocado Oil
- Peanut Oil
- Walnut Oil
- Sunflower Oil
- Grapeseed Oil
- Canola Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Butter
- Mashed Banana
- Ghee
Yeah! Olive oil has many health benefits, but it is in massive shortage. So, if you are cooking and in the middle of a recipe, you’veyou’ve found it is out of stock, you may look for another alternative. We hope this list may help you to some extent.
Proven Health Benefits Of Olive Oil
There is an abundance of health benefits of olive oil which makes it precious to everyone!! Do you want to know its health benefits? Read on…
- Boosts Heart Health
- Lowers Stroke Risk
- Fights Inflammation
- Large Amounts of Antioxidants
- Zaps Bacteria
- Prevents Cancer
- Boosts Brain Power
- Good for Digestion
- Relieves Pain
- Helps in Weight Loss
You can count its benefits as they are numerous. In a nutshell, if you want a healthy lifestyle, Olive oil can be the best option.
Conclusion
The future of olive oil production is still being determined. Some good signals, like the beneficial rains in Spain in March and April, have raised hopes for higher harvests. But the overall trend remains negative. The United States Department of Agriculture has reduced its global olive oil output forecasts to 2.5 million tons. It is a significant decrease from the previous year and the five-year average.
As climate change continues to cause issues, industry experts are looking into various solutions. Innovative irrigation systems, pest control, and crop management methods are being developed. This is to help olive producers adapt to changing conditions. Also, initiatives to diversify olive oil supplies are underway. It includes rising production in non-traditional regions such as California and Argentina.
As the industry faces these challenges, manufacturers and customers must adapt to the evolving landscape. Technical innovations and global cooperation will ensure an ongoing supply of this desired “liquid gold.”
Olive Oil is facing the most challenging period leading to its worldwide shortage. It is believed that this is the Worst Drought in living memory that threatens the olive oil supply worldwide.
Halcon, one of the manufacturers of olive oil, said, “We are very concerned, but you can grow any other tree in place of an olive oil tree.” ” However, farmers are battling while harvesting olive oil because of the extreme drought this summer that led to a shortage of olive oil. European farmers stated, “Because of the extraordinary weather conditions, this year, olive oil harvest from our farms will drop by 40 percent or more.
Farmers said, “The drought is too serious. It is simply too dry. Soil loses moisture levels, and it results in the production of very little fruit on some trees while some trees have no fruit at all.”
The record-breaking temperature of July 2022 (40 degrees Celsius/ 104.5 degrees Fahrenheit) broke down almost every part of France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. In August 2022, there was scorching heat, and later a lack of rainfall led to European drought conditions.