The international food security expert, Dr. Fadel ELZUBI, stated that the sharp decline in this year’s olive season raises serious concerns about Jordan’s ability to meet local market needs and ensure the continuity of exports. He explained that estimates indicate annual domestic consumption of olive oil ranges between 30,000 and 32,000 tons, meaning that the expected production this season may cover only a small portion of internal demand, placing Jordan before significant challenges in maintaining its export position.
Dr. ELZUBI noted that despite these challenges, Jordan still enjoys an important advantage in its integrated infrastructure for olive pressing, in addition to the strong reputation that Jordanian olive oil has earned in regional and international markets. He pointed out that the value of olive oil production in the last season reached about 223.9 million Jordanian dinars, while Jordan exported substantial quantities to key markets such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Qatar, as well as promising European destinations including Germany and Poland. This reputation, he stressed, makes the stability of production and the preservation of quality a strategic matter, not only for farmers and mill owners but for the national economy as a whole.
He added that, in light of this reality, some have proposed a thought-provoking option: importing olive fruits from neighboring countries such as Egypt, which enjoys abundant production thanks to irrigation from the Nile, and allowing Jordanian mills to press these olives locally. The idea, he explained, is to increase the available quantities of olive oil, whether to cover domestic consumption or to boost exports, while reserving Jordan’s own production for nearby markets that particularly value its authenticity and quality.
“From an economic perspective,” Dr. ELZUBI emphasized, “this option could achieve several benefits, most notably keeping mills operating at full capacity, thereby ensuring the continuity of jobs and preventing disruption in this vital sector. It could also help stabilize local prices and prevent excessive increases caused by limited supply. Furthermore, it may contribute to expanding export volumes by combining local and imported production, thus strengthening Jordan’s presence in regional markets.”
Dr. ELZUBI concluded by stressing that implementing such an option would require a clear legal and regulatory framework defining the mechanisms of import, pressing, and marketing, along with a strict distinction between oil produced from Jordanian olives and that from imported fruits, in order to safeguard credibility with consumers and foreign markets. He also underlined the need for institutional cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture, the Farmers’ Union, and mill owners to establish safeguards ensuring that imports do not harm Jordanian farmers.