China Invests in the Development of Its Own Olive Industry and Reduces Imports
China is actively working on modernizing and expanding its national olive industry, focusing on Hubei Province, particularly in the Yunyang region, which was the first to start cultivating olives in the country. Back in 1964, China received 10,000 olive saplings as a gift from Albania, marking the beginning of the development of this sector. However, today the industry faces a number of structural problems.
This is reported by AgroReview
Challenges and Innovations in Olive Production
According to Li Peiyu from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the existing seedling selection system remains imperfect, and planting management technologies require modernization and standardization. Despite this, Chinese breeders have managed to develop 11 new olive varieties that are well adapted to local climatic conditions.
The country continues to rely on external supplies: the share of imports in the structure of olive oil consumption stands at 78%. Liu Shenli, President of the Chinese Association of Agricultural Business Leaders, emphasizes that only 30% of edible oils are produced domestically, but significant increases in domestic production are planned over the next five years.
Market Potential and Technological Prospects
The Chinese edible oil market is impressive in its volume. According to expert Ender Gündüz, there are about 250 million potential olive oil consumers in the country, primarily in urban areas. Data for 2024 indicates that total edible oil consumption in China has reached 40 million tons, which amounts to approximately 29 kilograms per person.
“If every Chinese person consumed 0.5 kg of olive oil per year, that would be a huge figure,” emphasizes Wang Ruiyuan from the Chinese Association of Grain and Oil Industry.
The current industry development strategy also includes the creation of domestic equipment for olive processing that can compete with Italian and Turkish manufacturers. China intends to leverage its experience in industrial robotics to optimize production costs without compromising product quality.
Special attention is being paid to adapting olive oil to traditional dishes to increase its popularity among the local population and promote further growth in consumption.