Olive oil exports up

Local consumption reached 9,500 tons

Olive oil exports increased by about 28.5 percent last year to 4,162 tons, compared to 3,238 tons in 2011, according to Lebanese Customs figures. Exports also increased by 24 percent in the first nine months of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012.

According to the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), implementing the agriculture exports development program Agri Plus supported olive oil exports.

Olive oil production reached 11,300 tons in 2012. About 37 percent of the produce was exported and 2,374 tons of olive oil were imported. Local consumption reached 9,500 tons.

The IDAL ensured the importance of implementing the standards and norms in order to meet the international standards and penetrate all international markets.

According to IDAL, around 563 square kilometers of land are planted with olive trees, which represent 5.4 percent of the territory, or eight percent of the total agricultural lands.

Olive groves are mainly grown in six regions extending from the North to the South, in Batroun, Koura, Zgharta, Akkar, Rashaya Al Foukhar, Hasbaya, and other regions.