Drift of an emblematic mediterranean product: the case of olive oil

Mediterranean countries, in particular Spain, Italy and Tunisia, rule the international market of olive oil, in terms of land, production and exports. However, several new countries, such as Argentina, Chile, the United States and Australia have entered the market and are becoming important actors: their production, as well as imports of olive oil, are growing fast. Thanks to the positive image that it acquired due to its health benefits, olive oil is more and more appreciated in countries where its consumption is recent and non traditional. On the contrary, in Mediterranean countries, namely in Tunisia, other vegetable oils and fats tend to substitute olive oil, which is more expensive. However, such oils and fats could be responsible for the increase of cardiovascular diseases and obesity.