Syria reports abundant olive harvest amid rising production costs

Syria is experiencing a significant increase in olive production for the 2026 season, with official estimates from the Ministry of Agriculture placing the harvest at approximately 954,730 tons. This represents a substantial increase, with some reports suggesting yields between four and five times higher than the previous season, aided by favorable rainfall and soil moisture.

Despite the abundance, farmers are facing severe economic challenges. High costs for fuel, pesticides, fertilizers, labor, and transportation are offsetting the benefits of the large harvest. While the surplus is expected to benefit olive oil presses, market prices for olives and oil remain low. Olive prices are reportedly ranging between 70 and 180 Syrian pounds per kilogram, a level many farmers claim barely covers their operational expenses.

Geographically, Aleppo leads in olive cultivation areas with over 190,000 hectares, followed by Idlib. The country maintains more than 101 million olive trees, of which approximately 90.7 million are productive. Experts note that while the harvest is plentiful, the oil extraction rate may be lower than previous years due to heatwaves or early harvesting practices.