The Albanian olive harvest is under serious threat due to a growing shortage of available workers. Years of emigration and an aging rural population have made it increasingly difficult to find enough laborers for the intensive harvesting process. As a result, many olives remain unpicked, directly impacting olive oil production and exports.
Albania still feels the effects of decades of isolation under the communist regime of Enver Hoxha (1908-1985). Since transitioning to a parliamentary democracy in 1991, many young Albanians have left the country, mainly for Greece and Italy, where they work in the agricultural and tourism sectors. This has left Albania’s agricultural industry struggling with a persistent labor shortage.
Despite steady growth in Albania’s olive cultivation, with new plantations even in mountainous regions, the harvest remains largely manual. Small, fragmented farmland plots and steep terrain make mechanization challenging, leaving farmers reliant on seasonal workers.
With fewer young laborers available for this physically demanding job, wages for the scarce workforce have risen significantly. This, in turn, drives up production costs for farmers and olive oil producers, putting the entire sector under financial strain.
The consequences of the labor shortage are clearly reflected in the export figures. In the first nine months of 2024, the export of Albanian olive oil has dropped by as much as 60% compared to the same period in 2023. This not only puts pressure on the domestic market but also makes it more challenging for Albania to compete internationally as an emerging olive oil producer.
As a result, the prices of extra virgin olive oil at the farm level have increased by up to 50% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
Although producers are doing everything they can to minimize the impact on consumers, the rising costs make it inevitable that prices will come under pressure in the future. At Aljeta, we strive to keep our extra virgin olive oil accessible, but we cannot rule out the possibility that some price adjustments may become necessary.
If you want to ensure you have the highest quality Albanian olive oil, now is the time to stock up on your favorite Aljeta extra virgin olive oil.
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The Albanian olive harvest is severely impacted by a labor shortage, leading to a significant decline in olive oil production and exports. In the first nine months of 2024, exports dropped by 60% compared to the same period in 2023. This not only poses challenges for the domestic market but also hinders Albania’s position as an emerging olive oil producer.
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