By Andreas Georgiou Kyriacou l
NICOSIA, CYPRUS — Under Cyprus’s warm Mediterranean sun, the island’s ancient traditions of olive, carob, and halloumi agriculture are thriving all over again—gaining worldwide attention as boutique exports respond to global consumer desire for authenticity and quality.
Olive Oil: Liquid Gold from the Mediterranean
There’s a Cypriot olive oil renaissance. In 2023, Cyprus exported about $3.55 million worth of virgin olive oil—almost doubling every year—a testament to good cultivation and marketing of this traditional product wits.worldbank.org+1reportlinker.com+1.
Small in quantity but big enough in sales, Cyprus is one of the world’s top 30 exporters of pure olive oil, with good trade links to Greece, the UK, and the U.S.
Models that combine the classical olive groves with new pressing technology are infusing new pride in this liquid heritage.
Carob: The Sweet Revival of a Local Crop
Formerly eclipsed, the carob business of Cyprus is experiencing a revival. The carob exports amounted to approximately 2,090 tonnes valued at $1.84 million during 2023, representing an astonishing 76% increase in export value compared to last year tridge.com.
Carob is being rediscovered for its organic sweetness and health attributes, with Cypriot producers taking advantage of rising demand for organic syrups, teas, and food supplements.
Halloumi: Cyprus’s Jewel in the Crown in the International Arena
No export tale is more familiar than that of halloumi. In 2024, 42,427 tonnes valued over €324 million were shipped by Cyprus—a stunning growth in volume and value fastforward.com.cy+14reportlinker.com+14cyprusprofile.com+14cyprus-mail.com+11cbn.com.cy+11en.wikipedia.org+11.
Exporting over 20% of the nation’s non-hydrocarbon exports, halloumi is a flagship driver of Cyprus’s economic diversification and agri-identity (£e.azure). Its PDO status worldwide provides the additional assurances of quality and origin in-cyprus.philenews.com+1globenewswire.com+1.
Moving beyond tradition: resilience and growth in exports
Cyprus’s overall exports of goods, despite recent macroeconomic hardship, continue to be healthy—halloumi and farm product-driven despite across-the-board export declines.
As the European Commission indicates, agri-food chains of tradition—namely niche foods such as olive oil, carob, and halloumi—are at the center of Cyprus’s sustainable agriculture policy fao.org+15cyprusprofile.com+15documents1.worldbank.org+15.
A Recipe for Global Appeal
Conventional farming is being challenged by Cyprus from a strategic position to cater to demanding world markets.
Traceability and sustainability: olive oil and carob are certified organic now;
Protected status: PDO status supports brand authenticity;
Narrative marketing: heritage and origin are important to consumers—something Cyprus has in abundance.
This revival isn’t just agricultural—it’s a cultural renaissance. By elevating ancient crops, Cyprus is weaving its heritage into new markets and minds worldwide. Each bottle, pod, and cheese wheel tells a story rooted in the island’s sun kissed soil.
“We’re bottling our past—and shipping it with pride,” one farmer remarked, echoing the collective optimism fueling Cyprus’s agrarian future.
Sources:
- Cyprus olive oil exports, 2023 (~$3.55 M; +127% YoY) reportlinker.com+1tradingeconomics.com+1wits.worldbank.org
- Lead olive oil trade partners (Greece, UK, U.S.)
- Carob export jump to 2,090 t, $1.84 M (+76% YoY) ekathimerini.com+2tridge.com+2cbn.com.cy+2
- Halloumi exports 2024: 42,427 t, €324 M; PDO standards cbn.com.cy
- Agri-food value chain priority & export resilience openknowledge.worldbank.org
