Catalonia’s regional government and representatives of the olive oil sector want to apply for a temporary exemption from Spain’s new storage requirement list for olive oil apply for. Catalan oil mills are to be exempted from the requirement, initially until 31 December 2026, as they wish. The requirement is to withhold twelve per cent of their production. At an industry meeting on 10 November, the agriculture department proposed sending a joint letter to the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture are published.
The regional government justifies its proposal by saying that Catalonia no overproduction is expected that would justify applying the requirement under the same conditions as across the Spanish market as a whole. In the department’s view, a uniform rule could place a disproportionate burden on oil mills: it points to storage capacity, administrative costs and delivery commitments already entered into.
The Spanish measure applies to the 2026/2027 marketing season. Under a decision published on 6 November, oil mills must store twelve per cent of their declared production. The relevant amount is production accumulated during the season from November 2026 onwards; oil declared in October or earlier is exempt. The quantity concerned must not be put on the market before 30 September 2027. Businesses may store it in their own or third-party facilities.
The Ministry of Agriculture aims to regulate supply and stabilise the olive oil market The underlying regulation provides for market intervention if opening stocks and expected production together reach at least 120 per cent of the corresponding average for the previous six seasons. According to the ministry, this threshold had been reached.
For the current season, the decision cites opening stocks of 357,040 tonnes and expected production of around 1.6 million tonnes. The latter is an estimate, not a final harvest result. Production forecasts are based on figures provided by Spain’s regions.
The regulation provides for the ministry to review the measure from 31 December 2026, using updated production estimates and considering its impact on demand, prices and market stability. It may then reduce the quantity to be withheld by decision. Catalonia’s government wants the review also to consider an exemption for the region. No such exemption has been agreed so far; the regulation in force covers all Spanish regions with businesses concerned.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).