Olive oil is becoming more and more expensive because it is becoming more and more scarce. Spain is by far the world's largest olive oil producer. The annual yield, which averaged around 1.5 million tons in recent years and accounted for almost half of global production, fell to less than half (665,000 tons) in the 2022/2023 harvest season. The reason was unfavorable weather conditions with very little rain.

Other important producing countries such as Italy and Greece. This has strange consequences: olive oil has suddenly become a popular stolen commodity. In the summer months alone, more than 80,000 liters were stolen from warehouses and oil mills in Andalusia in southern Spain. Producers are afraid of the “pirates of liquid gold”.

On the contrary Turkey especially Egean Region where olives are grown is like a shining star. Despite all the challenges the Ministry of Commerce initially reported records in August: production and exports had increased significantly. Turkish exporters responded to the increased demand from abroad and offered more for export. However, this was not good news for most Turks. Their staple food became scarce and expensive. There is now an export blockade to control the food inflation rate in the country.

Farmers everywhere is blaming extreme weather events. Take Greece, for example: Because of the mild winter, the trees didn't have time to rest, then in spring the temperatures were too high right at the time of flowering, which resulted in problems with fruit formation. And finally, there wasn't enough rain, which was bad for the growth of the olives. 

Countries really need to take Climate Crisis into priority since there shouldn't be enough food for the increasing population of people and food inflation is irresistible. This is a global warming and affects all countries.