Olive harvest begins in South Marmara amid rising production costs

The olive harvest has commenced in the South Marmara region of Turkey, specifically in the Hıdırköy neighborhood of Bandırma. Agricultural engineer Hayri Onur Eken reports that while this is a high-yield year, rising production costs are making it difficult for producers to remain profitable.

Eken noted that although the olives are smaller in size compared to previous years, the overall yield is expected to be good. However, the cost of harvesting alone has reached approximately 20 TL per kilogram. With total production costs estimated at a minimum of 60 TL per kilogram and expected oil olive prices ranging between 35-40 TL, Eken stated that it is ‘impossible’ for producers to make a profit under these conditions.

Regarding olive oil, Eken mentioned that his own production costs approximately 1,700 TL per unit, which is sold for around 2,000 TL. He highlighted significant price discrepancies in the market, noting that some oils are sold for as low as 800-1,000 TL, raising concerns about counterfeit and blended oils. He also noted that drought in Europe, particularly in Spain, has negatively impacted olive production globally.