Greek olive oil exports to South Korea set to rise, positioning Greece as third top supplier in 2025

A recent study by the Office of Economic and Commercial Affairs in Seoul shows that Greek olive oil exports to South Korea surged in 2024. Greece shipped about 251.5 tonnes of virgin olive oil worth US$4.151 billion, a 65.2% increase in value and a 31.0% rise in volume compared with 2023. This growth moved Greece ahead of France and positioned it as the third‑largest supplier to the South Korean market in 2025, behind Italy and Spain.

The premium segment dominates the market: virgin olive oil accounted for 90 % of both value and volume, with an average customs price of US$16.40 per kilogram, higher than Italian and Spanish averages. The study highlights Greece’s strategic advantages – such as the Koroneiki variety, protected designation of origin zones, early harvest, and controlled pressing – while noting challenges like limited brand recognition versus Italy, fragmented producers, and inconsistent marketing budgets.

These dynamics suggest that Greece’s olive oil industry is leveraging quality and niche positioning rather than competing on price, aiming to capture a larger share of the South Korean premium olive oil market.