9000 metric acres of olives to boost oil supply

Monday, 02 August 2010 00:00

Sovena Group (Oliveira da Serra olive oil brand, foodservice, oilseeds, biodiesel) says it is currently halfway to completing a project to establish Portugal's largest olive tree plantation.  The 4,500 metric acre plantation is already under production in Ferreira do Alentejo, Elvas and the Aviz regions of the Alentejo. These olive groves are capable of producing 17 million liters of olive oil a year. The planned Ferreira do Alentejo olive oil press to process the crop, will come on line in time for the October 2010 harvest. Portugal, which was once self sufficient in olive oil, now imports from Spain, Morocco and Greece to meet the demand. Portugal would have a surplus in olive oil production within the next two to three years when the project is completed. Domestic olive oil consumption currently stands at 60,000 liters while output in 2009 was some 40 million liters. Now, the company’s olive development is geared to supply oil to Brazil a priority market, and to new markets such as China and India. Source: portugaloffer.com