Spain Orders Forced Withdrawal of 188,000 Tons of Olive Oil

The Ministry of Agriculture of Spain has ordered the forced withdrawal of 188,000 tons of olive oil from the market to prevent a collapse in procurement prices. Published in the Official State Gazette, the unprecedented intervention requires olive oil mills to store 12% of their monthly production from November 2026 through September 30, 2027.

The government triggered the measure after combined production of 1.602 million tons and carryover stocks of 357,000 tons exceeded 120% of the average of the two most productive seasons over the last six years. The Unió de Pagesos union warned that falling procurement prices are making farms economically unviable, though retail prices remain high near 10 euros per liter as supermarkets sell old, high-priced inventory.

The National Commission on Markets and Competition criticized the move, arguing that restricting supply could hinder price reductions for consumers. In a separate industry development, Spanish companies Dcoop and Acesur have agreed to acquire Deoleo Holding for 520 million euros.