Tariffs are a weapon and a tool for exercising policy, and in this capacity, US President Donald Trump’s move to impose a tariff of only 10% on products from Turkey and Egypt significantly changes the terms of a “silent war” that has been waged in recent years on American soil. And this concerns the shares in two product categories that Greece has been trying to “build” a better presence in recent years, olives and olive oil. Hence the obvious concern of people throughout the supply chain about the developments during a conference organized yesterday by the company Soybean Mills for the edible oil markets!

According to the latest official data, in 2024 Greek olive exports to the US reached 201 million euros and 75 million euros of olive oil (of which approximately 65 million euros concerned extra virgin).

The numbers are undoubtedly small in relation to the wider international competition, but they do not cease to hide behind them a dynamic that has been building in recent years. Only that the latter, as professionals in the field have warned, is in danger of “finding” a wall of tariffs.

“At present, a competitive disadvantage is being created for Greek products in relation to those of the largest competitors,” says the CEO of the “Soybean Mills” Group, Mr. Stathis Giavroglou, to newmoney. The interesting fact is that now the “big competitors” on American soil are not the Spaniards and the Italians, who undoubtedly control the largest part of the olive oil and olive market, but the Turks, the Tunisians and the Egyptians. “I say for now because I am convinced that negotiations will begin on this, so we have hope that olive oil can at least be exempted from the 20% tariff imposed throughout the EU,” notes Mr. Giavroglou.

In any case, everything seems to favor Turkey mainly. “Turkey has made leaps in recent years in terms of both quality and quantity,” says Dimitris Dambasinas, General Manager of “Hellenic Fine Oils”, a subsidiary of the “Soybean Mills” Group, to newmoney. “It is no coincidence that Turkish olive oil has managed to double its share of American imports in a few years, surpassing Greek olive oil. Now it will gain an even greater economic advantage over all European products,” he adds.

The picture of the reclassifications is partly outlined by the data of the International Olive Council on the quantities of olive oil and pomace oil imported by the USA from various countries. It is worth noting that this is the largest importer of olive oil

According to them, from 2018 to 2024, Spain exported an average of almost 126 thousand tons to the USA, or approximately 34% of total American olive oil imports. Italy, respectively, 114 thousand tons (31%), Tunisia, 57 thousand tons (15%), Turkey, almost 23 thousand tons (6%), Portugal, 14 thousand tons (4%), Greece, 12 thousand tons (3%) and Argentina, approximately 9 thousand tons (2%). Overall, the US, with annual volumes exceeding 360,000 tons and a six-year average of almost 373,000, is by far the largest importer in the world, according to research data presented by Manolis Giannoulis, president of the Interprofessional Olive Oil Organization (EDOE).

In this environment, the need for strategic support for Greek olive production is more urgent than ever, it was underlined at the conference, noting that other European olive-producing countries, such as Italy and Spain, are considering supporting their exports.