Olive oil origin and production are closely linked to the countries of the Mediterranean region. But how are production volumes actually distributed? A look at the latest figures shows which countries dominate the global market and how much harvest results can vary from year to year.
Olive oil origin in the EU – Spain, Italy and Greece lead the way
Within the European Union, most olive oil is produced in Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal and France. Smaller volumes come from countries such as Croatia, Cyprus and Slovenia. By far the world’s most important olive oil region, the EU accounts for around two thirds of total global production.
When it comes to olive oil origin within the EU, Spain is the undisputed leader. In the 2024/25 season, the country produced around 1,419,100 tonnes—more than all other EU countries combined. Italy follows with about 248,000 tonnes, Greece with 250,000 tonnes and Portugal with 177,000 tonnes. France and the remaining EU countries contribute comparatively small amounts.
Production in the EU and worldwide (in tonnes)
Note on the years: The figures refer to campaigns (harvest years) from 1 October to 30 September. The 2025 column corresponds to the 2024/25 campaign.
| Campaign (end year) | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 1.491.500 | 665.800 | 854.500 | 1.419.100 |
| Italy | 329.000 | 240.900 | 328.500 | 248.000 |
| Greece | 232.000 | 345.000 | 192.000 | 250.000 |
| Portugal | 206.200 | 126.000 | 160.900 | 177.000 |
| France | 5.800 | 3.600 | 6.500 | 5.500 |
| Other EU countries | 7.200 | 10.600 | 6.800 | 10.400 |
| EU total | 2.271.500 | 1.392.000 | 1.549.000 | 2.110.000 |
| World total | 3.422.500 | 2.569.500 | 2.589.000 | 3.572.000 |
Production fluctuations – why harvests vary so much
Global olive oil production varies significantly depending on the harvest year. This is mainly due to climatic conditions such as drought, heat or frost, as well as the olive tree’s natural alternate bearing—a cycle in which a high-yield year is often followed by a weaker one.
Spain provides a clear example: while around 1.49 million tonnes were produced in the 2021/22 season, production collapsed in 2022/23 to just 665,800 tonnes—less than half. Similar fluctuations can also be seen in other producing countries and have a noticeable impact on the global olive oil market.
Olive oil origin worldwide – the EU and the rest of the world
Total EU production in the 2024/25 season was around 2,110,000 tonnes, while global production was about 3,572,000 tonnes. The EU therefore produces just under 60% of the world’s olive oil—an impressive share that underlines the central importance of European producing countries for the global market.
Key producing countries outside the EU
Outside the European Union, Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, Syria and Algeria are the most important olive oil producers. In the 2024/25 season, Turkey recorded a particularly high yield of around 505,000 tonnes, making it one of the largest single producers worldwide.
In the same season, Tunisia produced around 340,000 tonnes, also placing it among the leading non-EU countries. Syria produced about 105,000 tonnes, Morocco 90,000 tonnes and Algeria 85,000 tonnes. Production figures in these countries can also fluctuate significantly from year to year.
Key producing countries outside the EU (in tonnes)
| Campaign (end year) | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 94.500 | 75.500 | 64.000 | 85.000 |
| Morocco | 190.000 | 107.000 | 106.000 | 90.000 |
| Syria | 105.000 | 125.000 | 122.000 | 105.000 |
| Tunisia | 240.000 | 180.000 | 220.000 | 340.000 |
| Turkey | 235.000 | 380.000 | 215.000 | 505.000 |
Seasons and harvest years – how the figures are collected
When looking at olive oil origin and production, one important detail should be noted: the figures do not refer to calendar years, but to so-called seasons. A season runs from 1 October to 30 September of the following year. The 2024/25 season therefore covers the period from October 2024 to September 2025.
The source of all production data is the International Olive Council (IOC), which, as an international organisation, collects and publishes data on the global olive oil market.
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Key questions and answers about olive oil origins
Which country produces the most olive oil worldwide?
Spain is by far the world’s largest olive oil producer. In the 2024/25 season, the country produced around 1,419,100 tonnes of olive oil—more than all other EU countries combined. Olive oil from Spain therefore dominates both the European and global markets. However, production volumes fluctuate considerably, as shown by the drop to just 665,800 tonnes in the 2022/23 season.
How much olive oil does Italy produce compared to Spain?
Italy’s olive oil production is significantly lower than Spain’s. In the 2024/25 season, Italy produced about 248,000 tonnes, while Spain produced around 1,419,100 tonnes—almost six times as much. Nevertheless, Italian olive oil is especially valued for its diverse regional flavour profiles. In Italy too, harvest results vary greatly from year to year, due to climate and the olive trees’ natural alternate bearing.
Why do olive oil production volumes fluctuate so much?
Olive oil production fluctuations have several causes. Climatic conditions such as drought, heat or frost can significantly affect the harvest. In addition, there is the olive tree’s natural alternate bearing—a biological cycle in which a high-yield year is often followed by a weaker one. Spain, for example, produced around 1.49 million tonnes in 2021/22, while it fell to just 665,800 tonnes in 2022/23.
What share of global olive oil production does the EU account for?
The European Union produces just under 60% of the world’s olive oil. In the 2024/25 season, EU production was around 2,110,000 tonnes, while total global production was about 3,572,000 tonnes. The most important EU producing countries for olive oil origin are Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal, which together account for the majority of European production.
Which countries outside the EU produce a lot of olive oil?
The most important olive oil producers outside the EU are Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, Syria and Algeria. In the 2024/25 season, Turkey recorded a particularly high yield of around 505,000 tonnes. Tunisia produced about 340,000 tonnes, Syria 105,000 tonnes, Morocco 90,000 tonnes and Algeria 85,000 tonnes. Production figures in these countries also fluctuate considerably.
What is an olive oil season?
A season refers to the harvest year in olive oil production and runs from 1 October to 30 September of the following year. The 2024/25 season therefore covers the period from October 2024 to September 2025. This classification differs from calendar years and is important for understanding production statistics collected by the International Olive Council.
Where does the data on global olive oil production come from?
All production data on olive oil origin comes from the International Olive Council (IOC). This international organisation regularly collects and publishes figures on the global olive oil market under the title “Key Figures on the World Market for Olive Oils”. The data is broken down by seasons (harvest years) and covers both EU-country production and that of the most important non-EU producing countries.
Note: The answers are based solely on the content of this article.
