Olive oil imports up by 49% from Spain, Italy in 2011

MUMBAI: Olive oil imports from Italy and Spain registered an increase of 49 per cent during the calendar year 2011, at 5,938 tonnes compared to 2010, according to Indian Olive Oil Association.

The imports stood at 3,988 tonne in 2010, based on customs data from Italy and Spain, Indian Olive Oil Association today said in a release issued here.

Italy and Spain together constitute more than 90 per cent of India's olive oil imports.

Import from Turkey, for which accurate data is not yet available, comprises of only 5-10 per cent of the total.

Olive oil imports is virtually nil from the other notable olive oil producing nations, like Greece, Syria and Tunisia.

About 56 per cent of the total imports during 2011 came from Spain and 44 per cent from Italy.

In 2010, the imports were 54 per cent from Spain and 46 per cent from Italy.

Within the overall total, the breakup of the main grades are Virgin 19 per cent, Olive Oil 40 per cent and Olive Pomace Oil 41 per cent.

Olive oil imports from Italy and Spain during January this year grew by 161 per cent at 663 tonne against 254 tonne in the same month in 2011.

Table olive imports by India from Spain, which constitute more than 80 per cent of total imports, during 2011 remained flat at 626 tonnes compared to 637 tonnes in 2010.