Olive oil industry in crisis during heat wave in Europe

Source: nongnghiep.vn Walter Zanre, Managing Director of Filippo Berio UK, said: “Even if Spain produces 850,000 tonnes as planned, the price situation is still not positive. Photo: agsaz/Alamy. With a spring heat wave affecting flowering, Spain, which produces about half of the global olive production, is forecasting a 28% increase in harvest year-on-year, its lowest level in nearly a decade. The International Olive Oil Council predicts the upcoming crop will produce 850,000 tonnes, down sharply from 1.3 million tonnes in a year of steady production. The olive oil industry is concerned that final output could be even lower as some southern parts of Spain suffer from two heatwaves in one week, pushing temperatures to 43 degrees Celsius this week, causing crops to drop young fruit to retain moisture. “We know that this is going to be another bad year in Spain, but no one can fully grasp what is going on. Even if Spain produces 850,000 tonnes as predicted, the price situation will ...