Syria is the world’s sixth largest producer of olives, and after a surge in olive tree planting over the last five years it could overtake Turkey and move into fifth place by 2005, The Daily Star reported Tuesday.
According to the paper, some Lebanese companies hoping to make a profit from Syria’s growing production.
At least two already have the financial backing to set up modern olive oil factories in Syria over the next 18 months.
One of these is United Foodstuffs and Catering (UFC) a Beirut-based distributor of Mazola olive oil and other imported foodstuffs.
Charles Karam, group financial controller of UFC told the daily that “they have the olives and we can provide the refining and packaging technology.”
Syria produces 85,000 tons of olive oil each year through traditional crushing methods and consumes 77,000 tons of this production.
Lebanon produces about 5,000 tons and imports a further 2,800 tons to meet its demand – Albawaba.com
