RAMALLAH, April 15, 2010 (WAFA)- The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said that olive presses in the Palestinian Territory for the year 2009, are 280, of which 235 were operating, while 45 were temporarily closed.

The distribution of operating presses by automation level was as follows: 209 full automatic presses and 26 half automatic and traditional presses. Data indicate that operating presses were concentrated in North of the West Bank, especially in Jenin and Tubas, and Nablus Governorates.

The results showed that the total quantity of pressed olive in 2009 was 19,860 tons, and the quantity of extracted oil is 4,771 tons, compared with 17,584 tons of oil extracted from 76,388 tons of pressed olive in 2008. The highest quantity of extracted oil in 2009 was 1,585 tons from 6,304 of olive pressed in Jenin and Tubas Governorates, while the lowest quantity of extracted oil was 103 tons from 389 tons of pressed olive in Jerusalem.

The results showed that the extraction rate increased to 24.0% in 2009, while it was 23.0% in 2008. It reached the highest level with 26.9% in Qalqiliya Governorate while the lowest level was in Gaza and Deir Al-Balah Governorates at 16.6%. The results showed that 892 Persons Engaged participated in olive pressing activities in the year 2009, of which 490 were paid employees, compared with 1,375 Persons Engaged in 2008 of which 1,028 were paid employees. Regarding compensation of paid employees, the results showed that it reached US$ 336.6 thousand in the year 2009, compared with US$ 899.1 thousand in 2008.

Finally, the results showed a decreased in the level of olive presses output in 2009, compared with previous years, as it reached US$ 3.0 million in 2009 compared to US$ 7.8 million in 2008. On the other side the value added of olive pressing activities amounted to US$ 1.8 million in 2009.