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Jordan is experiencing one of its worst olive seasons in more than two decades, with the sector suffering a sharp decline in production matched by a significant rise in prices, threatening the availability of olive oil for consumers and once again highlighting food security challenges linked to climate change.
Mahmoud Al-Omari, official spokesperson for the Union of Olive Press Owners and Olive Producers, said initial estimates put Jordan's olive oil output for the 2025 season at no more than 18,000 to 20,000 tonnes. This marks a substantial drop from the usual annual average of between 25,000 and 40,000 tonnes.
Al-Omari attributed the sharp decline to scarce rainfall, drought waves, and unprecedented high temperatures, particularly in western regions that rely on rain-fed irrigation, noting that the current season is among the weakest in the past 20 years.
However, he offered some reassurance, saying the quality of this season's olive oil is "excellent" despite the low volumes, explaining that the "light load" on the trees helped produce oil with high purity and nutritional concentration.
With production down, olive oil prices in local markets have risen to unprecedented levels. While the union set a reference price for a 16kg tin of oil at between 100 and 120 Jordanian dinars (equivalent to $140–$170), prices in some areas have jumped to 140–150 dinars ($198–$210).
To address the crisis, the Ministry of Agriculture decided to completely halt exports of green olive fruit for the 2025 season. The decision also included a ban on exporting olives to the "48 areas" of Palestine, despite existing annual contracts estimated at around 4,000 tonnes.
These measures aim to give absolute priority to the domestic market and ensure that the entire crop is directed towards pressing operations, securing citizens' needs for high-quality olive oil at affordable prices.
The ministry also indicated the possibility of resorting to limited olive oil imports, possibly from Tunisia given its available supply, should the market shortage persist, while stressing that any imported quantities must meet Jordanian specifications.
In parallel, the ministry and the union launched a national campaign titled "Check the Olive Oil and Make Sure It's Guaranteed." The campaign aims to warn citizens against fraud attempts, particularly those carried out via social media platforms, where cases of unfit-for-consumption oil being sold have been detected.
The campaign advised consumers to buy oil exclusively from licensed and trusted presses, avoid advertisements from unknown sources, and seek laboratory testing if there are any doubts about the oil's quality.
Amid the crisis, the union once again called on the government to provide direct support to farmers, implement smart irrigation solutions, and intensify agricultural extension and monitoring programmes, noting that the past rainy season was the weakest in decades, which also threatens other crops.
Separately, the Palestinian Crossings Authority announced that Jordan has allowed the entry of olive oil from the West Bank via the King Hussein (Karama) Bridge, but under strict controls, with the quantity limited to five tins per family, one time only, effective from 26 October 2025, with the aim of securing the local market.
Source: Al Arabiya