Spanish olive oil exporters launch mideast marketing campaign

The Spanish olive oil exporters association has launched a promotion campaign in the Middle east to boost exports to the region, reports Kuwaiti news agency KUNA.

The campaign, backed by the Spanish institute for foreign trade and the Spanish embassies, is titled "Spanish olive oil -- at the heart of Arab cuisine." The exporters delegation will be visiting Arab Gulf countries, Egypt and Yemen.

The news agency also quotes an expert from the association as saying Spain is scheduled to produce more than one million tons, or 45% of the world's total production of olive oil between November 2001 and March 2002.

Spanish olive oil producers say they supply as much as 80% of the middle east's olive oil needs.