Agriculture
9 August, 2026
‘Off year’ harvest will meet 2027 sales plan
AN “off year” harvest has seen Cobram Estate Olives mill more than 74,300 tonnes of fruit yielding 11.3 million litres of oil.
AN “off year” harvest has seen Cobram Estate Olives mill more than 74,300 tonnes of fruit yielding 11.3 million litres of oil.
The 2026 harvest compared with 80,000 tonnes for 14.2 million litres of oil last year.
Cobram Estate, in its end-of-harvest report, said production from the company’s own groves was expected to be 10.6 million litres (13.2 million litres in 2025).
The company also contract processed third-party fruit at its facilities, resulting in an additional 700,00 litres of olive oil to be marketed by the company.
“Through a combination of supply agreements and spot purchases, the company has also secured an additional 800,000 litres of olive oil from other Australian millers, taking the total olive oil available from the 2026 Australian harvest to 12.1 million litres,” said joint CEOs Leandro Ravetti and Sam Beaton
“As expected, 2026 was a lower-yielding off-year across most of CBO’s Australian olive groves, reflecting the natural biennial cycle of olive production.
“Total production from CBO’s own groves and third-party fruit contract processed and marketed by the company was 11.9 per cent higher than the previous off-year harvest in 2024 of 10.1 million litres.
“While the total crop by fruit weight was only 7.1 per cent lower than last year, oil content was 13.9 per cent below the long-term average.
“Oil content is largely determined by natural seasonal conditions and can vary by up to 15 per cent above or below the long-term average.
“This outcome was achieved despite the short-term yield reduction associated with the completion of the company’s replanting program.”
Mr Ravetti and Mr Beaton said olive oil quality was consistent with the company’s expectations and it would have sufficient supply to meet the requirements of its packaged goods sales plan through to the 2027 harvest.
Cobram Estate said the 2027 harvest was expected to be an on-year.
“With the company’s olive trees in good condition, and combined with its maturing grove age profile, the company currently anticipates that the 2027 crop will be substantially higher than the 2026 crop and higher than the previous on-year in 2025,” they said.
“The two-year rolling average production from the company’s Australian owned groves is expected to exceed 20 million litres when the currently planted trees reach full maturity.
“These projections remain subject to the usual variables inherent in agricultural production.
Meanwhile, Cobram Estate said its Australian water costs remained well above long-term average prices.
“Despite promising early rainfall in key catchment areas, the Bureau of Meteorology has confirmed that Australia is now in an El Niño phase, which typically increases the likelihood of drier winter and spring conditions across parts of southern and eastern Australia this year. This may result in lower rainfall and higher water costs throughout the next growing season.”
Read More: Loddon Shire