About us
ASOLIVA, the Spanish Olive Oil & Pomace Olive Oil Exporters Association, is a non-profit private entity created in September 1977, although it has existed with different names since 1928.
The association is currently formed by 50 olive oil exporting companies from several Spanish provinces, mainly in Andalusia and Catalonia, whose sales outside Spain represent more than 95% of national exports of bottled oil and between 50 and 75% of exports in bulk, depending on the harvests.
The objects of the association are centred on defending the interests of its associates, and all kinds of measures are taken to promote Spanish olive oil exports. However, ASOLIVA does not make any business transactions of any type, and only attempts to serve the exporting companies with the different activities carried out.
ASOLIVA, as a professional association, represents the exporting sector when dealing with the Spanish and European Administrations, as well as with the Spanish and international organisations, associations and federations it is a member of.
History
The olive tree, Olea Europea, was introduced onto the Iberian peninsula by Phoenicians and Greeks in about the first centuries BC. The Romans extended olive cultivation and improved oil production techniques. Oil trading -mainly by sea- played an important role in the development of the Mediterranean economy. Oils from Hispania, the largest supplier of this precious liquid, were considered to have the best quality and were normally consumed in Rome and many other parts of the empire.
But olive oil also had other uses apart from cooking. It was a religious, medical and nutritious symbol. It was used to anoint kings, athletes and newborn babies, as a hygiene and beauty product, as fuel to light lamps in temples, as a lubricant for tools and farm equipment, as waterproofing for textile fibres... The Arab invasion in Spain increased olive cultivation and techniques to obtain oil were perfected. The link was so strong that the Spanish word for oil "aceite" comes from the Arabic "al-zait" which means "olive juice". Olive trees were taken to the "New World" by the Spanish in the XVI and XVII centuries and they can be found today in California and in different parts of South America. Spain is currently the first olive oil producing and exporting country in the world.
Activities
ASOLIVA's main activities, aimed at associates, cover the areas of administrative management, representation, information and promotion. The association provides associates with up-to-date information by sending periodic reports and circulars about internal and external matters of interest, including general information, legislation and standards, promotion or foreign trade. Among others: modifications in legislation that affect the sector producing monthly and annual statistics about the development and trends of exports to 128 destinations. reports and statistical summaries about the development of different markets and comparisons between Spain's situation and other supplying countries. requests from potential buyers received daily by the association. precise situation of promotional campaigns, participation in various events, etc.
If you need information write to us andwe will reply as soon as possible
Send us
a message
Asociación Española de la Industria y Comercio Exportador de Aceites de Oliva y Aceites de Orujo
José Abascal Nº40, 28003 MADRID
http://www.asoliva.com/
asoliva@asoliva.es
