Italian olive oil production drops 12%
Production costs jump 38% in 12 years, trade bodies say
21 December, 18:27
(ANSA) – Rome, December 21 – Italian olive oil production
is set to fall 12% in the 2012-2013 season to just under 4.8
million tonnes compared with 5.5 million last season, according
to data released on Friday by a group of trade associations.
Production costs have increased some 38% in the past 12
years, whilst prices remained weak, a situation which ate into
producers profits, the Ismea, Aifo, Cno and Unaprol bodies said.The decline in volume was the result of bad weather this year, including droughts and high temperatures and floods.
The regions of Puglia and Calabria, which together make up almost two thirds of total production, have respectively lost 12% and 15% of their production this season. Sicilian oil production gained 5%. Tuscan production was little changed whilst that of Lazio fell 3%.
Production in the Marche region gained 15% whilst that in the regions of Liguria and Lombardy jumped 20%. The Veneto region, meanwhile, suffered a 30% decline.
