The production of olive oil in Spain has reached great heights, breaking world records for being the largest supplier and exporter in the world. Spain is a leading industrial olive oil supplier in all parts of the world. Their quality product has also achieved popularity in the East.

Because the right climate is paramount in producing olive oil, Asia’s climate is unfit to produce their own supply, much to Spain’s advantage. And surely, Spain has reaped the benefits of Asia’s growing demand for olive oil.

Unlike in Spain or Italy, the supply of olive oil is not as abundant in China, which is why it is considered a luxury product. Though the use of soybean oil and rapeseed oil are more common in China, it hasn’t stopped the rising demand for olive oil in the country.

Being the sixth country that consumes the most olive oil, China enjoys its supply from Spanish exports. In fact, it has been reported by the Interprofesional del Aceite de Oliva Español that around 99 percent of China’s olive oil is imported from Spain.

Chinese consumers are more likely to purchase olive oil for its health benefits, particularly those of extra virgin olive oil’s. 

On the other side of the pond, olive oil has also risen to popularity in recent years in Japan, beginning in the early 1990s.

A survey conducted in 2016 showed that Japanese consumers were likely to purchase olive oil for price and health reasons. More specifically, people aged between 20 and 40 were more likely to purchase for the price, while people aged between 50 and 60 were more likely to purchase for health.

Between 2014 and 2015, Spain accounted for 54 percent of the olive oil supply in the country.

Spain has also conquered South Korea in olive oil exports. The country has a smaller market for olive oil compared to its neighboring countries China and Japan. Nonetheless, 72 percent of its olive oil exports come from Spain, with 76 percent being virgin and extra virgin olive oil during the 2014 to 2015 season.

Less than two years later, Spain attained its reign on the South Korean olive oil market, exporting 1 million euros-worth of olive oil in the country during the first half of 2017.

Olive oil is enjoyed by many cultures in both the Eastern and Western hemispheres. The market for olive oil is thriving all over the world. Though the Asian market is small, it’s still young and has time to thrive. The great thing about Spain is that its olive supply is rich and abundant and that they have the appropriate climate for olive oil production. 

Luckily for the rest of the world, they don’t have to travel all the way to Europe to get a fresh supply of Spain’s very own Aceite de Oliva as they can rely on exports from top industrial olive oil suppliers. 

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