Olive Calibre Explained: A Buyer’s Guide to Counts per Kilogram
An olive calibre of 161/180 means 161 to 180 whole olives per kilogram. A lower count generally indicates larger fruit when you compare lots of the same variety. For an importer buying green Manzanilla olives in brine, the calibre belongs on the quote alongside the preparation, pack format and drained weight. Those details let you compare offers on the same basis.
How to read a whole-olive calibre
The International Olive Council uses fruit count per unit of weight to define table olive size grades. Suppliers and buyers can agree on a different scale, so ask what unit and grading method a quote uses. Two examples from the Council’s scale show how to read the figures.
| Example calibre | What the buyer is specifying |
|---|---|
| 161/180 | 161 to 180 whole olives per kilogram. The fruit tends to be larger than in a 201/230 lot of the same variety. |
| 201/230 | 201 to 230 whole olives per kilogram. The higher count means more fruit per kilogram and a smaller average fruit size. |
The grades above illustrate the notation. Confirm availability for your variety, preparation and order quantity with the supplier. If your packing line or jar opening needs a specific diameter, put that requirement in millimetres on the order as well. A count band describes a weight-based grade and cannot tell you the diameter of an individual olive.
Check the preparation before comparing quotes
For whole green Manzanilla with the stone in, put “whole, stone in” on the request. For pitted or stuffed olives, ask whether the stated calibre refers to the original whole fruit. The Council’s trade standard uses the original whole olive as the size reference for these styles. For sliced olives, agree separately on the finished ring diameter, thickness and the tolerance for broken pieces where they matter to your use.
Check the size on a representative sample
Ask how the supplier grades the lot and how it selects samples. Agree on the draining and weighing method before comparing counts. Count the olives in a representative portion, then divide the count by the sample weight in kilograms. For example, 86 whole olives in a 0.50 kg drained sample gives 172 olives per kilogram, within the 161/180 band. This checks the sample’s count. Agree separately on how to sample the shipment and what tolerance will apply at acceptance.
What to put in your request for quotation
- Product: green Manzanilla, whole with the stone in, packed in brine.
- Calibre: the count per kilogram, acceptable range and any diameter or sorting requirements.
- Packaging: drum or barrel format and target drained weight of olives per pack.
- Quantity and shipment: order volume, destination port and preferred Incoterm.
- Sample and documents: ask for a representative sample, the written product specification and the documents you need for your market.
For supply background, see our guide to Egyptian table olive exports. To discuss a lot, see the Manzanilla specifications and request a quote. We can confirm what is available and quote against your specification.
Reference: International Olive Council trade standard for table olives, section 2.5 on sizing.