Olive production in 1996 in Australia was 936 tonnes from an estimated 543,100 trees. It is projected that 1.5 million trees will be in production by the year 2000.

In 1996 Australia imported $115.4 million of olive products, olive oils accounting for $94.8M (15,772 tonnes) and table olives for $20.6M (6,540 tonnes). Exports from Australia totalled $1.25 million, mainly to the Asia-Pacific region, with most products being re-exports.

In 1997 Australia imported $117 million of olive products with a retail value of approximately $175 million. This is the result of a 246% growth in the Australian olive market from 1988-1997.

This trade in olive products means that there are markets for Australian olive products consistently delivered to segments of the market at the right price, place and quality.

Estimates suggest that Australia will have three million trees in production by 2003. Nursery sales of olive trees have increased from 10-20,000 trees a year in 1989/90 to over 1 million trees a year in 1999/00

Main markets for olive products in Australia are: consumers, the food service sector, importers/exporters and the food manufacturing industry.

Competition will come from imports of olive products and other edible oils such as canola, grapeseed oil and sunflower seed oil.

A Report on the current and potential development of the Australian Olive Industry. Provides an array of facts and statistics useful in developing an overview of the global and Australian industry and the opportunity for import replacement.

The report was compiled by DG McEvoy, EE Gomez, A.McCarrol and J Sevil.

The report is a result of collaboration between the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries.

For the full report go to www.rirdc.gov.au:80/reports/NPP/DAQ-210.doc

To purchase RIRDC publications go to www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/cat/contents.html

This link is provided with the kind permission of the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.