Spain's olive growers face losses as olive oil prices plunge

Around three‑quarters of Spain's olive growers are now operating at a loss. A sharp drop in farm‑gate prices to below €4 per kilogram, combined with rising production costs and severe drought, has left many farms financially untenable. The Ministry of Agriculture reports extra virgin oil prices hovering around €4.2/kg, while some varieties fall below the break‑even threshold of €4‑4.5/kg. Reduced yields from a near‑50% drop in recent harvests have compounded the problem.

In addition to domestic pressures, massive imports of Tunisian olive oil—estimated at over 80,000 tonnes entering Spain in a year—are undercutting prices, intensifying the sector's crisis.