Italy olive oil stocks rise 43.9% amid calls for regulatory reform

Italy's olive oil stocks reached 233,377 tonnes as of July 31, 2026, representing a 43.9% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Extra virgin olive oil accounts for 79.4% of these reserves. While total stocks are up year-on-year, they decreased by 9.7% compared to June 2026, driven largely by a reduction in Italian-origin extra virgin olive oil.

Simultaneously, the Italian Association of Olive Oil Mills (AIFO) has appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture to amend regulations regarding olive delivery times. The association is requesting that the current six-hour delivery window for merchants to transport olives to mills be extended to at least 24 hours. AIFO argues that the existing rule is incompatible with logistical realities and adds pressure to a sector already facing market volatility and high inventory levels.