The price of oil has risen 15.4% since the first half of July and the liter already costs 9.42 euros

MADRID, 30 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The price of olive oil "has skyrocketed" in the last month and a half, with an increase of 15.4%, which has brought the average price per liter to 9.42 euros, although in some brands it exceeds 12 euros , according to the calculations of the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU).

OCU has carried out a price survey among 19 brands of extra virgin olive oil in 10 supermarket chains and has concluded that the rise "is general and affects practically all the brands" in all the chains studied (Alcampo, Carrefour, Dia, Caprabo, El Corte Inglés, Hipercor, Eroski, Mercadona, Consum and Condis).

Regarding brands, the OCU survey shows that there is only one that has lowered its price, Mar de olivos (-1%). At the other extreme, several white brands have registered an increase that reaches and exceeds 30% in just 45 days, which may also be caused by the disappearance of specific offers that were in the month of July.

The organization points out that the increases in the price of oil in all its varieties have their origin "in the significant reduction in the harvest suffered this campaign", where production has fallen around 50%.

However, OCU has denounced "the strong speculation that exists around the price of oil", since the product that is currently in supermarkets was bought at prices "much lower" than those currently on the wholesale market.

Likewise, OCU has warned of the effect that these strong increases have for consumers and that it will result in a reduction in the consumption of olive oil that will be replaced by other oils.

Faced with this situation, the organization has asked the Ministry of Agriculture to increase control of the olive oil production chain "to avoid abuses and speculation that could occur and that have negative effects for both the sector and farmers." .