Portugal: olive oil that’s going from strength to strength…
Whilst Portugal may not (yet) be the first country that springs to mind when talking about olive oil, it has more than one string to its bow. In 2017, its oils and fats with a geographical indication (GI) generated €13.5 million — accounting for 4 per cent of the European market. And guess what? Between 2010 and 2017, this sector saw staggering growth of 206 per cent! Suffice to say, Portugal takes its olive trees very seriously.
Portuguese liquid gold
Olive oil dominates the ‘oils and fats’ category of GI products in Portugal. And the country can boast of producing gems such as ‘Azeite de Moura’ and ‘Azeite do Alentejo Interior’ — names that sound like an invitation to travel (and to taste).
A country focused on exports
Portugal doesn’t just produce: it also exports. 50 per cent of its sales of agri-food products with a GI are destined for overseas markets, whether within the European Union or beyond. This shows that the world is beginning to take a keen interest in what Portugal has to offer… and this is just the beginning!
- 6 olive oils, including Azeite de Trás-os-Montes, Azeite de Moura, Azeite do Alentejo Interior, Azeites da Beira Interior, Azeites do Norte Alentejano and Azeites do Ribatejo
- 2 types of olives: Elvas and Campo Maior preserved olives, Negrinha de Freixo preserved olives
