At-home food consumption variation in Spain August 2022, by sector

It is no secret that Spain is an olive oil nation. Consumption of the golden liquid is, however, decreasing, much like all other food categories across the country. Compared to the same month the previous year, Spanish people consumed over 14 percent less fish in August 2022, for example. This generalized decline can be attributed to inflation.

Same country, different taste for olive oil

Olive trees have been grown and harvested around the Mediterranean Basin since time immemorial, turning the fruit of this tree into the golden liquid that constitutes even nowadays an important asset in the European economy. Although an indispensable ingredient in Spanish cuisine, olive oil consumption can vary greatly across the Mediterranean country’s regions depending on the preferred oil type. In that regard, Galicia led the list of consumers of regular olive oil with over 7.37 liters per capita, whereas Cantabria featured the highest intake of extra virgin olive oil at 4.48 liters per capita in 2021.

Butter vs. olive oil: the never-ending battle

The average consumption of butter in the European Union stood at 4.31 kilograms per person per year according to the latest studies. Spanish Mediterranean cuisine is traditionally olive oil-based, and this attitude is reflected in the country’s butter consumption: 460 grams of butter per person, far below the European average. The olive oil consumed in Spain was however significantly higher, with figures reaching over 7.7 kilograms on average per person in 2021.