Specialists have warned that the sharp decline in olive oil production during the 2025 season is the result of two main factors: the traditional alternate bearing pattern of olive trees and the complex effects of climate change.
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They emphasized to the Jordanian Petra News Agency the need for a proactive plan for the next season, considering that most olive trees in Jordan rely on rainfed cultivation, making them highly susceptible to climate variability. Investment in supplemental irrigation and modern harvesting techniques could reduce significant losses, enhance domestic supply, and improve the efficiency of the olive value chain.
Experts also highlighted the importance of strengthening agricultural extension services, developing field management techniques, and supporting olive presses to maintain operational readiness despite lower yields, ensuring the sustainability of Jordan’s olive sector value chain.
According to the 2025 Olive Press Survey issued by the Department of Statistics, total olive production dropped to 16,342 tons—a 34.4% decrease compared to the 2012–2024 average of 24,923 tons, and a 54.4% decline from the 2024 season, which recorded 35,828 tons—the lowest level since 2009.
The quantity of olives processed for oil also fell to 84,154 tons from 184,903 tons in the previous season, with an average of 127,746 tons during the same period, reflecting a simultaneous decrease in both fruit yield and oil output.
Geographically, production was concentrated in northern governorates, with Irbid leading at around 5,500 tons, followed by Ajloun at 3,300 tons, while Aqaba recorded the lowest output at 52 tons, highlighting the north-south production gap.
Dr. Fadel Al-Zoubi, an international expert in food security, agriculture, and emergencies, explained that the sharp decline is due first to the natural alternate bearing cycle, where trees alternate between high and low production years, depleting nutrients and energy after abundant seasons. The second factor is the complex impact of climate change, including irregular rainfall, shifts in geographic distribution, and changes in runoff patterns, directly affecting tree growth, flowering, fruit set, and ultimately oil production.
Northern governorates like Irbid and Ajloun maintained relatively better production thanks to larger planted areas, higher tree density, farmer experience, and supplemental irrigation, while southern areas suffered from higher temperatures and lower rainfall.
Al-Zoubi stressed the need for a proactive response for the next season, including supplemental irrigation for rainfed areas and potentially importing olives for local processing to stabilize olive press operations and mitigate price fluctuations, ensuring transparency regarding product origin.
Mohammad Taysir Al-Najdawi, head of the Jordanian Olive Press Owners Association, confirmed that this year’s decline began in the field, not the presses, as they operated at reduced capacity due to limited harvests.
Engineer Fayadh Al-Ziyoud, head of the Jordanian Association of Olive Producers and Exporters, noted that consecutive weak rainfall seasons and climate change over the past five years contributed to the decline, with insufficient rainfall in 2024 reducing flowering and fruiting for the 2025 season. He added that northern governorates depend more on regular rainfall, while southern regions such as Aqaba saw limited growth.
Jamal Al-Battash, executive director of the General Association of Olive Press Owners and Producers in Jordan, confirmed that delayed and uneven rainfall, along with higher temperatures in southern areas during flowering, directly contributed to lower fruit yields and oil production.
Experts emphasized the importance of expanding agricultural guidance, modern irrigation, drought- and heat-tolerant olive varieties, and applying research-based techniques to mitigate climate impacts, reduce production costs, increase olive and oil yields, and narrow the north-south production gap, securing the sustainability of Jordan’s olive sector.
— (PETRA)
