Según un European Union report in the next decade the consumption of olive oil will increase and gain positions in European consumption. Consumers in the European zone are progressively reducing the consumption of animal fats and other vegetable oils in favor of olive oil principally. The importance of a healthier diet associated with the Mediterranean diet are decisive for this increase.
These are not just forecasts, it is already happening, the consumption of olive oil is and will continue to increase in Europe over the next ten years. This is reflected in a study by the European Union that shows the increases in the consumption of olive oil in countries as important as Germany and France. Thus, the German country has gone from 9.800 tons in the 1991/92 harvest year to 76.900 tons estimated for 2021/22.
In just three decades, the consumption of olive oil in non-producing countries of the EU has gone from 21.400 to 162.700 tons. In the same period, non-producing countries outside the European Union have seen their olive oil consumption quadruple, from 246.000 to 1,1 million tons. Countries like Poland and the Netherlands are reflecting an increase in consumption and very important changes in habits.
an olive grove. Source: Pixabay
Olive oil wins for being healthier
Undoubtedly the reasons for following a healthier diet are the most important cause of this increase and that consumers who did not use olive oil use it more and more. According to the authors of the report “Olive oil is expected to increasingly replace vegetable oils in food consumption. Particularly outside of the main producing countries, driven by a healthy image of olive oil and a growing popularity of various Mediterranean cuisines”.
The trend towards health in the diet causes the substitution of animal fats such as butter and less healthy oils. Thus, vegetable oils, such as olive oil, gain positions along with sunflower and rapeseed. On the opposite side, the oils whose consumption decreases are soybean and palm oils.
TAll of this will lead to an increase in the cultivation area of the olive grove and improve its methods to guarantee greater production and yield.. Countries like Spain, which leads the production, Portugal, Greece and Italy will fight for these new European consumers.
