Olive Cultivation and Production of Olive Oil

Agriculture sector has a significant share in the economy of our province. 276.240 hectares of the total area of 540.300 hectares of the province are cultivated areas and 18% of this is olive grove fields. Our province realized 9.5% of Turkey’s olive production with production of 158,419 tons of olives in 2013. (TUIK, 2013)

55 Olive Pressing Facilities with Industrial Registry Certificates, given by Hatay Provincial Directorate of the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology operate and 40,862 tons of olive oil is extracted in these facilities. 

According to 2013 data of Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM), total value of olive and olive oil exports of our province is 37.5 million $.

With the increase in table olive cultivation areas in recent years, it can be observed that production of olives for pickling has begun in small numbers.

Due to the supports for olive tree planting and the incentives given for olive oil, olive cultivation areas have increased considerably in the last few years. It is estimated that the production of olive and olive oil will increase by 50% in the next 10 years. 

Thanks to the grants, provided within the framework of the project of supporting rural development by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock in the last few years, fully-automatic system olive pressing facilities in accordance with the new technology have been established. Olive oil produced in our province has sought-after characteristics in terms of flavour and aroma both in domestic and foreign markets. Development of this sector also leads to the development of soap industry.