Wholesale Olive Oil Suppliers in Greece
Greece has the highest ratio of extra virgin olive oil production of any country — approximately 80% of Greek olive oil is EVOO, far above the world average of approximately 50%, making Greece the world's premium EVOO supplier per production unit.
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Find Olive Oil Suppliers →Greek olive oil: the koroneiki advantage, Crete, and Peloponnese production
Greece cultivates approximately 700,000–800,000 hectares of olive groves and produces 250,000–350,000 tonnes of olive oil annually, making it the world's third-largest producer. The key differentiator is Greece's dominant olive variety: koroneiki (κορωνέικη), which accounts for approximately 60–65% of Greek olive oil production and is uniquely suited to Greek climatic conditions. Koroneiki is a small-fruited, high-oil-yield variety that produces oil with: very high polyphenol content (200–800 mg/kg — among the highest of any variety, far exceeding the 250 mg/kg threshold for EU health claims); intense herbaceous, peppery, and almond aromas; and naturally low acidity due to the variety's characteristics and early-harvest practices common in Greece. Major production regions: Crete is Greece's largest olive oil-producing region, accounting for approximately 35–40% of national production. The prefecture of Heraklion (around the Messara plain) and Lasithi prefecture are the primary Cretan production areas, with the variety Tsounati (a local Cretan variant) alongside koroneiki. The Peloponnese is Greece's second-largest region, with Kalamata area (Messenia province) and Laconia (Sparta area) producing PDO-designated kalamata and Laconia olive oils alongside mainstream EVOO. Macedonia and Thrace (northern Greece), Lesbos/Mytilene (Aegean island — producing Mytilene EVOO), and Epirus are secondary production regions. Key Greek PDOs: Kalamata PDO (Peloponnese — the most internationally recognised Greek olive oil PDO; deep green early-harvest koroneiki and tsounati); Sitia PDO and Kolymvari PDO (Crete); Laconia PDO (Peloponnese); Lesbos PDO (Aegean); and Archanes PDO (Crete). Greek EVOO is exported under numerous Greek brands (Eleonas, Gaea, Terra Creta, Hellenic Farms, Altis, and many others) as well as bulk supply for EU and international private-label production.
Sourcing Greek EVOO: ELGO-DIMITRA certification, commercial terms, and premium positioning
Greek olive oil quality control is overseen by ELGO-DIMITRA (Ελληνικός Γεωργικός Οργανισμός — ΔΗΜΗΤΡΑ / Hellenic Agricultural Organisation DEMETER), the authority responsible for DOP/PDO certification, olive oil quality inspection, and agricultural standards in Greece. ELGO-DIMITRA-issued DOP certificates are the definitive authenticity documentation for Greek PDO olive oil. The Greek olive oil market has a unique structure: approximately 65–70% of Greek olive oil is consumed domestically (Greece has the world's highest per capita olive oil consumption at approximately 12–14 kg/person/year) and 30–35% is exported. However, Greece also exports significant volumes of bulk olive oil to Italy, which is re-packaged and sold as Italian-labelled blends — contributing to Italy's larger branded export statistics. For international buyers seeking authentic Greek origin, working with Greek exporters and requesting ELGO-DIMITRA documentation is necessary. Pricing: Greek EVOO typically trades at a moderate premium to Spanish commodity EVOO but at a discount to Italian PDO EVOO. The premium is justified by the higher average polyphenol content (driven by koroneiki variety) and the EVOO production ratio. Early-harvest Greek EVOO (collected September–October before full ripeness) commands a significant premium in health-focused markets due to polyphenol content typically 2–4× higher than late-harvest oils. Commercial terms: EXW Greece or FOB Piraeus/Thessaloniki. Piraeus (Athens area) is Greece's primary port. For northern European buyers, Thessaloniki in northern Greece serves as an alternative shipping point.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Greece produce ~80% EVOO while Spain and Italy average much lower EVOO ratios?
Greece's exceptional EVOO ratio is driven by several factors: the koroneiki olive variety, which is naturally suited to very early harvest and produces oil with low acidity without requiring extended ripening; traditional Greek harvesting practices that prioritise early harvest (September–October) before the olives fully ripen, which produces lower yields per tree but higher oil quality; Greece's mountainous, fragmented terrain that makes large-scale mechanised harvesting difficult, leading to more hand-picking (which causes less fruit damage and oxidation vs mechanical methods); and a cultural tradition that prizes olive oil quality over quantity. Spain and Italy have larger proportions of table olive varieties and later harvesting practices that produce more oil per tree but with higher acidity.
What is early-harvest Greek EVOO and why does it command a premium?
Early-harvest EVOO (αγουρέλαιο — agourélaio in Greek, sometimes called 'green gold') is produced from olives harvested before full ripeness (typically September–October in Greece), when the fruit changes from green to faint violet. This timing captures: polyphenol content at its peak (often 400–800 mg/kg vs 150–300 mg/kg in typical late-harvest commercial EVOO); higher oleocanthal and oleacein concentrations (bioactive compounds associated with anti-inflammatory properties, subject to EU health claim research); and the strongest aromas — intense green apple, fresh herbs, and black pepper. The trade-off is lower oil yield (more olives needed per litre) and a production cost premium. Early-harvest Greek EVOO is positioned in the premium health-food market alongside Cretan EVOO and high-polyphenol Greek brands.
What does ELGO-DIMITRA certification mean?
ELGO-DIMITRA (Hellenic Agricultural Organisation DEMETER) is Greece's national agricultural authority responsible for certifying Greek PDO and PGI food products including olive oil. For Greek PDO olive oil (e.g., Kalamata PDO, Sitia PDO), ELGO-DIMITRA issues the product certification confirming that the olive oil was produced from specified olive varieties, in the specified geographic area, using specified production methods, and meeting chemical and sensory standards. The ELGO-DIMITRA certificate is the primary authenticity document for Greek PDO olive oil buyers. ELGO-DIMITRA also oversees organic certification in Greece and conducts market surveillance of Greek olive oil quality.
How does Greek EVOO pricing compare to Spanish and Italian origin?
Bulk Greek EVOO is typically priced between Spanish commodity EVOO (the lowest-cost major producer) and Italian PDO EVOO (the highest-premium branded category). In typical market conditions, the differential is approximately: Spanish commodity EVOO (baseline); Greek bulk EVOO +5–15% vs Spanish; Italian non-PDO EVOO +5–20% vs Spanish; Italian PDO EVOO (e.g., Toscano IGP) +30–80% vs Spanish. During the 2023/24 drought shortage, all Mediterranean EVOO prices rose sharply, compressing relative differentials. For premium buyers in North America and Northern Europe seeking certified Greek single-origin EVOO, Greek branded exporters (Terra Creta, Gaea, Eleonas, Hellenic Farms) command strong premiums in specialty food channels.
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