Spain warns heatwave threatens olive oil production

Spain accounts for nearly half of global production of olive oil. Photograph: Steve Race/Alamy

Fierce heatwaves and a lack of rain in Spain threaten to reduce olive oil production from the world’s top exporter, the country’s agriculture minister has warned.

“If there is no temperature relief or rains in the coming weeks, this year’s olive harvest could be notably lower than previous ones,” Luis Planas told Bloomberg News. “The olives sector is concerned about oil production.”