Eligible agricultural mills can borrow up to €50,000 and agro-industrial mills up to €300,000, with five years to repay.
Italy's ISMEA has allocated €35 million to two interest-free loan lines for olive mills with higher stocks of extra virgin oil. The two lines form part of the €40 million Cambiale Frantoi Oleari programme announced on 28 October, with applications open from 5 November.
The loans support working capital tied up in oil, allowing mills greater flexibility over when to sell, ISMEA says. Applicants must show that eligible stocks on 30 June 2026 were at least 25% higher than on 30 June 2025. Only traceable oil from milling at the applicant's own facility counts. Purchased finished oil and stocks held for third parties are excluded.
Across all origins and registered operators, ICQRF's 30 June report recorded 206,955 tonnes of extra virgin olive oil in Italy, up 63% from 126,986 tonnes a year earlier. The loan test concerns each applicant's eligible own-production stocks.
Two lines, different borrowing limits
The agricultural line is for registered agricultural businesses operating mills, with olive growing as their primary activity under ATECO code 01.26.00. Loans range from €3,000 to €50,000. The agro-industrial line covers mills registered primarily for olive oil production, code 10.41.10, with loans up to €300,000.
Both limits are also capped at 50% of revenue in the latest VAT return. The term is five years, including two before principal repayments begin, followed by twelve quarterly instalments. The loans take the form of promissory notes, or cambiali, with interest covered by ISMEA within EU de minimis aid limits.
Agro-industrial borrowers must provide security worth at least 120% of the loan. Agricultural borrowers face that requirement where the statutory security privilege is unavailable.
Both lines are for qualifying SMEs active by 1 January 2024, with an operating establishment in Italy and compliant SIAN oil-register records. Applicants must not be businesses in difficulty under the scheme's rules.
ISMEA is preparing a third line for mills affected by financial pressure without the required stock increase. Its criteria remain to be defined.
Applications for the first two lines close at noon on 20 November 2026 through the ISMEA portal.