Key figures on olive oil and olives PDO in France

France, the cradle of an olive oil sector with a particularly high concentration of designations of origin, now has 15 recognised olive oil Designations of Origin, which cover a large part of the country and the sector — here are the key figures that paint a picture of the sector.

  • 15 recognised olive oil Appellations d’Origine in France.
  • 1,654 local authorities are part of one or more Designation of Origin zones. The size of these zones varies greatly: from 16 municipalities for the PDO Vallée des Baux-de-Provence to 464 municipalities for the PDO Provence.
  • 6,434 hectares, representing approximately 12 per cent of France’s olive groves (but nearly one-third of the olive groves cultivated by farmers).
  • Approximately 1.4 million olive trees, representing 28 per cent of the olive groves, are cultivated by around 2,748 producers.
  • More than 150 processors
  • 1,400 tonnes of average annual olive oil production.
  • 635 tonnes of average annual olive production.
  • €35–40 million in turnover
  • €33: the average selling price of 1 litre of PDO olive oil in France, compared with €27 for ‘Huile d’olive de France’ and €11 for imported olive oil sold in supermarkets
Map of France PDO
© France Olive

The value premium: the price of authenticity

Olive oil bottles & Tags
© France Olive

The PDO label is reflected very clearly on the price tag. 

In France, a litre of PDO olive oil sells for an average of €33 including VAT, compared with €27 for a French olive oil without a designation of origin and just €11 for an imported olive oil sold in supermarkets (average price across all bottle sizes, calculated per litre — source: France Olive / IRI).

In other words, PDO olive oil sells for three times the price of a standard imported oil, and is a further 22 per cent more expensive than a French oil without a designation of origin.

This price difference is not a matter of marketing: it reflects the actual cost of production under strict specifications, involving lower yields, supervised harvesting and processing, and full traceability from orchard to bottle, subject to external and independent monitoring. It also represents the cost of preserving local and traditional varieties, traditional know-how, a history rooted in the local area, and a rural economy that sustains jobs in these regions

It also represents consumer recognition of a product whose origin and distinctive character are guaranteed.