While global honeybee colonies face alarming threats, the worldwide industry supporting them is humming with surprising economic might, producing nearly two million metric tons valued at nine billion dollars in 2022 alone.
Key Takeaways
- Global honey production reached 1.92 million metric tons in 2022, up 2.5% from 2021
- China produced 485,000 metric tons of honey in 2022, accounting for 25% of global output
- India's honey production was 118,000 metric tons in 2022, driven by apiculture programs
- The global honey market size was valued at USD 9.0 billion in 2022
- US honey market revenue reached $1.2 billion in 2022
- Europe honey market accounted for 28% of global share worth $2.5 billion in 2022
- Global per capita honey expenditure $1.20 in 2022
- US annual honey consumption averaged 1.3 pounds per capita in 2022
- Germany consumed 1.2 kg honey per capita in 2022, highest in Europe
- World honey trade volume hit 700,000 metric tons in 2022
- China exported 130,000 metric tons of honey worth $450 million in 2022
- India honey exports reached 50,000 metric tons valued at $80 million in 2022
- Global managed honey bee colonies 98 million in 2022 facing 40% annual loss
- US honey bee colony winter loss 48% in 2022-2023 season
- Pesticide exposure caused 30% of global bee mortality in 2022 studies
Global honey production grew to 1.92 million tons in 2022, led by China and India.
Consumption
- Global per capita honey expenditure $1.20 in 2022
- US annual honey consumption averaged 1.3 pounds per capita in 2022
- Germany consumed 1.2 kg honey per capita in 2022, highest in Europe
- China honey consumption totaled 600,000 metric tons in 2022
- EU-27 honey consumption reached 400,000 metric tons in 2022
- India's per capita honey consumption 0.08 kg in 2022, growing rapidly
- US household honey consumption averaged 12 oz per year in 2022
- UK honey intake 0.8 kg per capita in 2022
- Brazil consumed 55,000 metric tons of honey in 2022
- Japan per capita honey consumption 0.4 kg in 2022, imported heavy
- Australia consumed 1.7 kg per capita in 2022, highest globally
- France honey consumption 0.7 kg per capita in 2022
- Turkey domestic consumption 85,000 metric tons in 2022
- Canada per capita honey use 1.0 kg in 2022
- Russia consumed 60,000 metric tons in 2022
- Mexico honey consumption 50,000 metric tons in 2022 per capita 0.4 kg
- South Korea imported honey consumption equivalent to 0.3 kg per capita 2022
- Italy consumed 10,000 metric tons in 2022, 0.17 kg per capita
- Saudi Arabia per capita honey consumption 1.5 kg in 2022, cultural staple
- Spain domestic use 25,000 metric tons in 2022
- Global honey consumption growth 2.1% annually 2018-2022
- US urban areas consume 60% of national honey volume in 2022
- China urban honey consumption doubled to 400,000 tons 2017-2022
- EU honey self-sufficiency rate 60% in 2022, consumption exceeds production
- Australia household penetration 85% for honey products in 2022
- India festival season honey sales spike 40% in Q4 2022
- Germany natural honey preference 92% of consumers in 2022 survey
- Brazil per capita consumption rose to 0.26 kg in 2022 from 0.22 kg 2021
- Japan confectionery honey use 70% of total consumption 2022
- Global vegan population drove 15% honey alternative shift but pure honey still 95%
- US children's honey consumption in foods 0.5 lb per capita 2022
Consumption Interpretation
The world's relationship with honey is a sticky but revealing one, where a paltry global average of $1.20 per person proves we're all just winging it, while the soaring appetites in cultural hubs and health-conscious nations show we're finally realizing that for a sweet life, you can't fake the real thing.
Market Value and Economics
- The global honey market size was valued at USD 9.0 billion in 2022
- US honey market revenue reached $1.2 billion in 2022
- Europe honey market accounted for 28% of global share worth $2.5 billion in 2022
- Retail price of natural honey averaged $5.50 per kg globally in 2022
- India's honey market grew to INR 2,000 crore ($240 million) in 2022
- Organic honey segment valued at $1.1 billion globally in 2022, 12% of total market
- China honey wholesale price averaged 12 CNY/kg ($1.70) in 2022
- US retail honey sales volume hit 450 million pounds in 2022
- Global honey market projected to reach $10.5 billion by 2030 at 2.2% CAGR
- Manuka honey market size was $1.2 billion in 2022, premium segment leader
- EU honey import value totaled €500 million in 2022
- Brazil honey market revenue $150 million in 2022, growing 4% YoY
- Packaged honey segment grew 5.3% in value to $3.8 billion globally 2022
- US honey industry contributed $20 billion to economy via pollination in 2022
- Asia-Pacific honey market share 40% valued at $3.6 billion in 2022
- Average farmgate price for honey in US was $2.25/lb in 2022
- Global raw honey export value $1.8 billion in 2022
- Turkey honey market size $300 million in 2022, 3rd largest producer impact
- Supermarket channel dominated 55% of global honey sales value in 2022
- US organic honey retail price averaged $7.80/lb in 2022
- Middle East honey market grew to $800 million in 2022 at 6% CAGR
- Canada honey producer revenue $250 million CAD in 2022
- E-commerce honey sales surged 15% to $1 billion globally in 2022
- Flavored honey market valued $500 million in 2022, niche growth area
- Global honey production costs averaged $1.50/kg in 2022 for major producers
- Australia honey export value $100 million AUD in 2022
- Latin America honey market $400 million in 2022, led by Argentina
- US honey consumption expenditure $1.5 billion in 2022 retail
Market Value and Economics Interpretation
Despite commanding a sweet $9 billion global hive of activity, the industry’s true value is best measured not by the sticky gold in jars but by the indispensable $20 billion worth of pollination it provides to the U.S. economy alone.
Production
- Global honey production reached 1.92 million metric tons in 2022, up 2.5% from 2021
- China produced 485,000 metric tons of honey in 2022, accounting for 25% of global output
- India's honey production was 118,000 metric tons in 2022, driven by apiculture programs
- Turkey ranked 4th globally with 116,000 metric tons of honey produced in 2022
- United States honey production totaled 148 million pounds in 2022 across 2.71 million colonies
- Argentina produced 82,000 metric tons of honey in 2022, benefiting from vast floral resources
- Ukraine's honey production hit 105,000 metric tons in 2022 despite regional conflicts
- Brazil's honey output reached 63,000 metric tons in 2022 from over 3 million hives
- Germany's honey production was 23,000 metric tons in 2022 from 1.2 million colonies
- New Zealand produced 14,000 metric tons of manuka honey equivalent in 2022
- Ethiopia's honey production stood at 53,000 metric tons in 2022, mostly traditional methods
- Mexico produced 72,000 metric tons in 2022, leading Latin America
- Russia yielded 70,000 metric tons from 4 million colonies in 2022
- Iran's honey production was 92,000 metric tons in 2022
- US honey yield per colony averaged 51 pounds in 2022, down from 55 in 2021
- Global number of beehives exceeded 100 million in 2022 supporting honey production
- Australia's honey production reached 37,000 metric tons in 2022
- Canada's honey crop was 75 million pounds in 2022 from 700,000 colonies
- Spain produced 32,000 metric tons in 2022 amid drought challenges
- Tanzania's output was 42,000 metric tons in 2022 from traditional beekeeping
- Vietnam produced 25,000 metric tons in 2022, growing at 5% annually
- Greece's honey production totaled 18,000 metric tons in 2022, known for thyme honey
- South Africa's honey output was 5,500 metric tons in 2022
- Romania produced 30,000 metric tons from 1.5 million colonies in 2022
- Bangladesh yielded 8,000 metric tons in 2022 via smallholder farming
- US beekeeper colonies numbered 2.71 million in 2022, yielding 148M lbs honey
- World honey production per capita averaged 0.24 kg in 2022
- Poland's production reached 25,000 metric tons in 2022 from 12 million hives
- Kenya produced 15,000 metric tons in 2022, focusing on African honey bee
- Global honey production growth rate was 1.8% CAGR from 2018-2022
Production Interpretation
The global honey industry is a remarkable, multi-nation hive-mind effort, producing 1.92 million metric tons of liquid gold in 2022, proving that even when our geopolitics are a sticky mess, bees and beekeepers from China's vast apiaries to Ukraine's resilient colonies keep the world's sweet tooth satisfied.
Sustainability and Challenges
- Global managed honey bee colonies 98 million in 2022 facing 40% annual loss
- US honey bee colony winter loss 48% in 2022-2023 season
- Pesticide exposure caused 30% of global bee mortality in 2022 studies
- Varroa mite infestation affected 70% of European apiaries in 2022
- Climate change reduced EU honey yields by 20% in southern regions 2022
- Organic honey production global share 8% in 2022 but growing 10% YoY
- US commercial beekeepers lost 62% colonies over summer 2022
- Honey adulteration with syrups detected in 40% Chinese exports 2022 tests
- Global neonicotinoid bans saved 15% bee populations in banned areas 2022
- Africanized bees caused 25% production drop in Americas 2022
- EU Colony Collapse Disorder reports down 50% but still 10% losses 2022
- Drought impacted 35% global honey production variance in 2022
- Sustainable beekeeping certifications covered 20 million hives worldwide 2022
- US almond pollination fees $200/colony average strained industry 2022
- Nosema disease prevalence 45% in Asian apiaries 2022
- Global floral diversity loss 12% affected nectar sources 2018-2022
- India smallholder beekeepers 90% vulnerable to climate shifts 2022
- Honey bee foraging distance increased 25% due to habitat fragmentation 2022
- EU organic apiary standards adopted by 15% beekeepers in 2022
- US migratory beekeeping transport stress caused 20% mortality 2022
- Global antibiotic use in hives reduced 30% via IPM in 2022 pilots
- Brazil Atlantic forest restoration aided 10% honey yield recovery 2022
- Honey authenticity testing NMR adopted in 25 countries 2022
- Sea level rise threatened 5% coastal apiaries globally 2022 projections
- Australian varroa detection programs prevented 50% spread 2022
- Global citizen science bee monitoring apps tracked 1M observations 2022
Sustainability and Challenges Interpretation
Our honey industry is fighting a war on twelve fronts, from pesticides to parasites, and while the bees are barely buzzing back thanks to some hard-won battles, the sheer scale of the attrition makes every spoonful feel like a small miracle.
Trade and Import/Export
- World honey trade volume hit 700,000 metric tons in 2022
- China exported 130,000 metric tons of honey worth $450 million in 2022
- India honey exports reached 50,000 metric tons valued at $80 million in 2022
- New Zealand manuka honey exports $300 million NZD to 40 countries in 2022
- Argentina exported 70,000 metric tons worth $250 million in 2022
- US honey imports totaled 433 million pounds valued at $750 million in 2022
- EU imported 300,000 metric tons of honey in 2022, 40% from China
- Brazil honey exports 20,000 metric tons $60 million to Europe in 2022
- Ukraine exported 55,000 metric tons before disruptions in 2022
- Mexico honey exports 40,000 metric tons $100 million mainly to US 2022
- Turkey exported 25,000 metric tons worth $90 million in 2022
- Canada exported 30,000 metric tons $80 million CAD in 2022
- Vietnam honey exports grew 20% to 15,000 metric tons in 2022
- Australia exported 25,000 metric tons $150 million AUD in 2022
- US top honey import sources: India 30%, Vietnam 25%, Argentina 15% in 2022
- Germany imported 80,000 metric tons honey €200 million in 2022
- Global honey trade value $2.2 billion in 2022, up 5% YoY
- Ethiopia exported 6,000 metric tons $20 million to Middle East 2022
- Spain honey exports 10,000 metric tons €30 million intra-EU 2022
- China top destination US 40% of honey exports in 2022
- UK post-Brexit honey imports 25,000 tons £70 million 2022
- Russia honey exports 15,000 metric tons to Asia $40 million 2022
- India top export markets US 50%, Saudi Arabia 15% in 2022
- EU-China honey trade disputes led to 20% tariff in 2022 affecting 100k tons
- Poland exported 12,000 metric tons $35 million to Germany 2022
- Global honey export concentration: top 10 countries 70% volume 2022
- US honey import growth 10% YoY to 433M lbs in 2022
- New Zealand to China manuka exports doubled to $100M in 2022
- Brazil to EU honey shipments 12,000 tons certified organic 2022
- World honey adulteration seizures 5,000 tons in 2022 trade controls
- Yemen honey imports 2,000 tons $10M despite conflict 2022
Trade and Import/Export Interpretation
In 2022, the world's $2.2 billion honey trade buzzed with a stark imbalance, seeing the U.S. import nearly half a billion pounds of it while China dominated the supply, proving the global sweet tooth is both voracious and entirely dependent on geopolitically sticky supply chains.
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