Before Julia (not her real name) went on vacation, olive oil The private label of the supermarket where he works costs 5 euros. “Didn’t you notice? It already costs almost $7,” says his partner, who is surprised that the newcomer hasn’t noticed how much the price has increased in recent weeks. There are bottles on the shelf in Barcelona on Tuesday, August 29th, and near by, selling for almost 10 euros. According to the data National Institute of Statistics (INE), olive oil was already selling almost 40% more expensive in July than a year ago, and this increase will likely be higher in August, given that the origin price has risen from 7.7 euros. per kilo of extra virgin recorded a month ago inflammation (Spanish Federation of Industrial Olive Oil Producers) was at 8.15 euros this Wednesday, marking the same data. And in the face of such a scenario, consumption has only fallen.
The analysis is updated monthly. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food The latest report available shows that Spanish families purchased approximately 12% less olive oil in April than a year ago. Sources from the cooperatives and distribution sector tell El Periódico de Catalunya from the Prensa Ibérica group that this trend continued in the months that followed.
“Basically, the customer reduce the volume of consumptioninstead of changing it [por otros aceites, como el de girasol] it reduces consumption President of the Cooperativas Agroalimentarias de España olive oil sector, Rafael Sanchez de PuertaThis does not hide the seriousness of the issue (last season ended with the worst harvest in years and this year the outlook is even worse), but it is clear that there is no problem. danger of famine. “There will be no shortage of products, but because of price, if price were not regulated, there would be a risk of scarcity,” this expert says.
Inflation effect
In Barcelona, for example, up to six establishments from six different chains agree with him: despite being in more than one chain oil is protected by alarm No actions were detected that would suggest the public was doing this to prevent theft given the rise in costs collection Preventing future increases is something that has a logical explanation in the public eye. President of Girona Young Farmers Agricultural Association (asaja), Seagull Clos. Seeing a shift towards a more likely agricultural representative, this agriculture representative analyzes, “People can’t play the stock market because they don’t have money, families have up-to-date information and they can’t invest in 30 liters of oil.” sunflower oil or market concentration less points. “Very little that exists will be distributed,” he justifies.
“This is not good for the weakest link in the chain, the first and last links: olive groveBecause we don’t have a substantial crop to sell and consumerbecause it faces an unfamiliar price”, he analyzes Olive Orchard President of Small Farmers and Farmers Union (UPA) And olive grove in jaen, Christopher Cano. “Eventually, a consumer profile will emerge where it becomes more and more expensive to buy olive oil,” he predicts.
In the short term, the forecast of all these consulted views is that the price will soon reach the ceiling. But the problem pointed out by the various supermarket workers surveyed is that it will be difficult for them to get back to where they are. Moreover, when the background lock is also a difficult issue to resolve climate change And drought.