Olive Oil Importers and Distributors

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Olive Oil Importers and Distributors in Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, UK, USA. / Locations / Contacts

Olive Oil Import / Retail / Distribution

Olive Oil Importers in Europe:

International Olive Oil Importers:

Olive Oil / Import, Wholesale, and Retail Distribution:

  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Virgin olive oil
  • Pure olive oil
  • Light olive oil
  • Flavored olive oil

Olive Oil Importers – Overview

Global Trade Structure, Sourcing Networks and Import Trends.

How International Olive Oil Importers Operate

Modern olive oil importers perform a range of functions that extend well beyond procurement and distribution.

Origin Sourcing

Importers establish long-term relationships with:

Olive mills
Agricultural cooperatives
Exporters
Estate producers
Bottling companies

Many importers purchase directly from producing regions to ensure traceability and product consistency.

Quality Control and Certification

Olive oil is among the most quality-sensitive food commodities in international trade.

Importers routinely conduct:

Chemical analysis
Acidity testing
Sensory evaluation
Authenticity verification
Traceability audits
Country-of-origin certification

Compliance with standards established by the International Olive Council (IOC), the European Union and national food safety authorities has become increasingly important.

Logistics and Storage

Unlike many vegetable oils, olive oil requires specialized storage conditions to preserve quality. Importers invest heavily in:

Temperature-controlled storage
Stainless steel tanks
Light-protected packaging
Inventory rotation systems

Packaging and Branding

Many importers buy olive oil in bulk and subsequently:

Bottle under proprietary brands
Produce private-label products for retailers
Develop premium origin-specific ranges
Create blends designed for local consumer preferences

Distribution Channels

Imported olive oil reaches the market through:

Supermarket chains
Foodservice distributors
Specialty food retailers
Restaurant supply companies
Industrial food manufacturers
E-commerce platforms

Where the Largest Olive Oil Importers Are Located

Global olive oil imports are concentrated in a relatively small group of consumption-driven markets.

United States

The United States is the world’s largest olive oil importing country and accounts for approximately 35% of imports among the major global importing markets. The country remains heavily dependent on foreign suppliers because domestic production satisfies only a small portion of demand.

Italy

Although Italy is a major olive oil producer, it is also one of the world’s largest importers. Italian companies import significant volumes of bulk olive oil for refining, blending, packaging and re-export. Italy ranked among the leading importers by value in 2024.

Spain

Spain dominates global olive oil production and exports but also imports olive oil for blending and redistribution purposes. Spain was among the leading importing countries in 2024.

Brazil

Brazil has emerged as one of the fastest-growing olive oil import markets outside Europe and accounts for approximately 8% of imports among the major importing countries tracked by the International Olive Council.

Japan

Japan remains Asia’s most established olive oil importing market and represents approximately 6% of major global import demand.

Canada, China and Australia

These countries have become increasingly important import destinations as olive oil consumption expands among health-conscious consumers. Together they represent a substantial share of global demand growth.

What Types of Olive Oil Are Imported?

International olive oil importers generally trade across several categories.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)

Extra virgin olive oil represents the premium segment of the market.

Characteristics include:

Mechanical extraction only
Low acidity levels
Superior sensory qualities
High antioxidant content

This category accounts for the majority of premium retail imports.

Virgin Olive Oil

Virgin olive oil has slightly higher acidity levels than extra virgin oil while retaining natural olive flavour characteristics.

Refined Olive Oil

Refined olive oil is produced from virgin oils that undergo processing to remove defects. It is commonly used in food manufacturing and foodservice applications.

Olive Oil Blends

Many importers offer blended products combining oils from multiple origins to achieve consistent flavour profiles and price points.

Olive Pomace Oil

Produced using residual olive material after pressing, olive pomace oil is widely used in foodservice and industrial applications where lower-cost products are required.

Major Olive Oil Exporting Regions and Origins

The global olive oil supply chain remains highly concentrated around Mediterranean-producing countries.

Spain

Spain is the dominant player in the global olive oil industry and remains the world’s largest producer and exporter. According to trade data, Spain was responsible for approximately 29% of olive oil supplied to major importing markets during the current crop year.

Spanish olive oils are supplied extensively to:

United States
Italy
France
Germany
China
United Kingdom

Tunisia

Tunisia has become one of the most important suppliers to international importers and accounted for approximately 22% of imports among major global importing markets in the latest IOC trade assessment.

Italy

Italy exports premium bottled olive oil products worldwide while also serving as a major blending and packaging hub for imported oils. Italian-origin oils represented approximately 18.6% of supply to major importing markets.

Türkiye

Türkiye has significantly expanded its role in international olive oil trade and accounted for roughly 10% of supplies into key importing markets.

Portugal and Greece

Both countries remain significant suppliers of premium olive oils, particularly within European and North American markets.

Other notable exporters include:

Morocco
Argentina
Chile
Israel

Global Import Volume

According to the International Olive Council’s latest market assessment, seven major importing markets account for approximately 80% of global olive oil imports. These markets are:

United States
European Union
Brazil
Japan
Canada
China
Australia

During the early period of the 2024/25 crop year, imports into these major markets reached approximately 172,414 tonnes, broadly stable compared with the previous season.

For all Olive oil import and distribution aspects please contact regional importers and distributors or our central desk.

Importers & Distributors Details

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