China to import local olive oil

30,000 tons annual production

A plan to promote olive oil exports to China is being prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). The project was approved by Cabinet.

The ministry said it will cooperate with a private firm, Global Development Projects, for the project. The plan also involves organizing exhibitions in Asian countries in collaboration with the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL).

Fayez Al Kais, representative of the communal committees in Marjayoun and Hasbaya said: “This step aims at reviving and boosting the whole olive oil sector.” China is an active target market. “We import a big array of goods from China, so the project will be focusing on encouraging Chinese traders to buy our olive oil,” Al Kais said.

The project’s implementation methods have not been determined yet, but according to Al Kais, foreign companies interested in importing Lebanese olive oil will send experts to check the quality of the oil and its acidity content. “We are sure that our olive oil meets the international requirements,” said Al Kais

Another way to support the olive oil sector is through buying the produce to fulfill the needs of public institutions, like the Army. “The government could market a good proportion of our olive oil through these institutions,” said Al Kais. He said that the government should protect the local market from dumping excesses through increasing the customs fees on imported olive oil because it is less expensive than locally produced olive oil.

The annual olive oil production is around 30,000 tons, according to the MoA, while the annual local consumption reaches up to 18,000 tons.