With Manuka honey making up nearly half of New Zealand's buzzing 28,450-tonne annual output, the industry's remarkable ascent is not just a sweet success story but a powerhouse of economic growth, science, and global trade.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, New Zealand's total honey production reached 28,450 metric tonnes, a 4.2% increase from 2021
- The North Island accounted for 62% of national honey production in 2023, yielding approximately 17,600 tonnes
- Average honey yield per hive nationwide was 52.3 kg in 2022, up from 50.1 kg in 2021
- New Zealand honey exports totaled NZ$682 million in 2022, up 12% from prior year
- China received 28% of NZ honey exports by value in 2023, worth NZ$210 million
- USA imported NZ$145 million worth of Manuka honey in 2022
- Domestic honey market value was NZ$145 million in 2022
- Retail price for standard honey averaged NZ$12.50 per 500g jar in 2023
- Manuka honey UMF 5+ retailed at NZ$45 per 250g in supermarkets 2022
- NZ honey industry generated NZ$1.2 billion in economic value including multipliers in 2022
- Employment in apiculture totaled 12,500 full-time equivalents in 2023
- GDP contribution from honey was 0.3% or NZ$950 million in 2022
- Manuka honey MGO 100+ contains 100mg/kg methylglyoxal
- 85% of commercial Manuka meets UMF or MGO authentication in 2022 tests
- Average pollen count in NZ honey is 45,000 per gram for purity
New Zealand's honey industry thrives with rising production and record exports.
Economic
- NZ honey industry generated NZ$1.2 billion in economic value including multipliers in 2022
- Employment in apiculture totaled 12,500 full-time equivalents in 2023
- GDP contribution from honey was 0.3% or NZ$950 million in 2022
- Royalty payments to Maori iwi from Manuka reached NZ$15 million in 2023
- R&D investment was NZ$22 million in 2022
- Tax revenue from industry estimated at NZ$180 million in 2023
- Multiplier effect on rural economies was 2.8x export value in 2022
- Average beekeeper income was NZ$145,000 in 2023 for commercial ops
- Pollination services revenue NZ$85 million annually in 2022
- Import substitution saved NZ$20 million in 2023
- Capital investment in hives and gear NZ$450 million stock in 2022
- Tourism spin-offs from apiary visits NZ$12 million in 2023
- Insurance premiums paid by industry NZ$28 million in 2022
- Supply chain value added 35% to raw honey price in 2023
- SME contribution 68% of economic output in 2022
- Export earnings per employee NZ$54,000 in 2023
- Government subsidies for hive health NZ$8.5 million in 2022
- Brand equity value of NZ Manuka estimated NZ$5 billion globally 2023
- Cost of production index rose 11% due to inputs in 2022
- Regional economic impact Northland NZ$180 million in 2023
- Profit margins averaged 28% for exporters in 2022
- Future economic projection 1.5% annual growth to 2030
Economic Interpretation
While its GDP contribution may seem small at 0.3%, the New Zealand honey industry is a remarkably potent economic hive, generating over a billion dollars, supporting thousands of jobs, enriching iwi, and proving that its true value is spread far more widely than the sticky stuff in the jar.
Employment
- Number of commercial beekeepers registered 4,250 in 2023
- Total industry jobs including seasonal 25,000 in 2022 peak
- Average hive management labor 120 hours per year per 100 hives
- Women comprise 32% of apiarists in 2022 survey
- Training courses completed by 1,850 new entrants since 2020
- Maori employment in industry 18% above national average in 2023
- Hive technician wages averaged NZ$28/hour in 2022
- Queen bee breeders numbered 120 specialists in 2023
- Seasonal migrant workers 2,400 for pollination services 2022
- Safety incident rate 1.2 per 1,000 workers in 2023
- Association membership 85% of commercial operators in 2022
- Youth apprenticeships 450 slots filled in 2023
- Processing plant staff totaled 1,950 full-time in 2022
- Remote monitoring tech reduced labor needs by 15% in 2023
- Regional employment leader Bay of Plenty 3,200 jobs in 2022
- Turnover rate in industry 8.5% annually 2023
- Certification training for UMF 1,200 completions in 2022
- Export logistics roles grew 12% to 850 in 2023
- Volunteer beekeepers contribute 5,200 part-time equivalents
- Skill shortage list includes apiarists since 2021
- Average career length 22 years for senior beekeepers 2022
- Digital platform jobs in marketing 450 new in 2023
- Projected employment growth 2.4% annually to 2028
- Historical peak employment 28,000 in 2019 boom
Employment Interpretation
While the industry buzzes with a dedicated and growing hive of 4,250 commercial beekeepers and 25,000 jobs, its real sweet spot is a remarkably sticky and diverse workforce, where women make up nearly a third of apiarists, Māori employment thrives, and the average career lasts 22 years, yet it still faces the persistent sting of an 8.5% annual turnover rate and a spot on the official skill shortage list.
Exports
- New Zealand honey exports totaled NZ$682 million in 2022, up 12% from prior year
- China received 28% of NZ honey exports by value in 2023, worth NZ$210 million
- USA imported NZ$145 million worth of Manuka honey in 2022
- Export volume reached 18,900 tonnes in 2023, primarily Manuka varieties
- European Union took 15% of exports, valued at NZ$112 million in 2022
- Average export price per kg was NZ$36.10 for Manuka honey in 2023
- Japan exports grew 18% to NZ$45 million in 2022
- Bulk export shipments averaged 25 tonnes per container in 2023
- Certified Manuka exports under UMF were 9,200 tonnes in 2022
- Australia imported NZ$32 million in honey products in 2023
- Export compliance inspections numbered 4,250 in 2022
- Online export sales via e-commerce platforms hit NZ$68 million in 2023
- UK post-Brexit imports rose to NZ$55 million in 2022
- Container throughput for honey at ports was 1,200 TEUs in 2023
- Tariff-free access under CPTPP boosted exports to Asia by 9% in 2022
- Re-export processing added NZ$12 million value in 2023
- Top export product was UMF 10+ Manuka at 3,450 tonnes
- Export growth rate to USA was 14.5% YoY in 2022
- Honey export permits issued totaled 2,800 in 2023
- Value-added export products like creamed honey were NZ$28 million
- Middle East markets emerged with NZ$15 million in 2023
- Export insurance claims were minimal at 0.2% of volume in 2022
- Air freight exports for high-value Manuka totaled 150 tonnes in 2023
- Export destination diversity index increased to 45 countries in 2022
- FOB export value per tonne averaged NZ$38,500 in 2023
- Honey exports contributed 2.1% to total agri-exports in 2022
- Projected 2024 exports at NZ$750 million
- Historical export peak was NZ$728 million in 2021
Exports Interpretation
New Zealand’s honey industry is sweetly conquering the world, one luxurious, gold-standard pot at a time, with China and the U.S. leading the charge for its liquid gold.
Market
- Domestic honey market value was NZ$145 million in 2022
- Retail price for standard honey averaged NZ$12.50 per 500g jar in 2023
- Manuka honey UMF 5+ retailed at NZ$45 per 250g in supermarkets 2022
- Supermarket sales volume was 4,200 tonnes in 2023, 65% of domestic
- Online honey sales grew 22% to NZ$32 million in 2022
- Wholesale price per kg for bulk honey was NZ$18.20 in 2023
- Health food stores captured 28% market share in 2022
- Premium Manuka segment valued at NZ$89 million domestically in 2023
- Consumer spending per capita on honey was NZ$28 in 2022
- Private label honey sales rose 15% to 1,100 tonnes in 2023
- Export-domestic price differential was 45% for Manuka in 2022
- Market concentration: top 5 firms held 52% share in 2023
- Promotional campaigns boosted sales by 8% in Q4 2022
- Honey in food manufacturing used 2,450 tonnes in 2023
- Gift pack sales peaked at NZ$12 million during holidays 2022
- Organic honey domestic premium was 35% over conventional in 2023
- Brand loyalty index for leading Manuka brands was 67% in 2022
- Price elasticity of demand for honey was -0.45 in 2023 study
- New product launches totaled 45 honey variants in 2022
- Farmer's market sales volume 650 tonnes annually in 2023
- Inflation-adjusted market growth was 3.2% in 2022
- Youth demographic (18-34) purchased 29% of premium honey in 2023
- Subscription box services for honey hit NZ$4.5 million in 2022
- Market forecast for 2025 at NZ$168 million domestic
- Historical domestic market low was NZ$98 million in 2015
Market Interpretation
New Zealand's honey market is busier than a beehive, with consumers paying a premium to put their money where their health is—though the real sweet spot lies in the 45% markup for sending that prized Manuka honey abroad instead of keeping it on the Kiwi shelf.
Production
- In 2022, New Zealand's total honey production reached 28,450 metric tonnes, a 4.2% increase from 2021
- The North Island accounted for 62% of national honey production in 2023, yielding approximately 17,600 tonnes
- Average honey yield per hive nationwide was 52.3 kg in 2022, up from 50.1 kg in 2021
- Manuka honey production constituted 12,500 tonnes in 2022, representing 44% of total output
- South Island production totaled 10,850 tonnes in 2023, with a focus on multifloral varieties
- Number of registered apiaries in New Zealand stood at 9,850 in 2022
- Total number of hives managed commercially was 548,000 in 2023
- Clover honey yield averaged 60 kg per hive in key Waikato regions during 2022 season
- Kanuka honey production surged by 15% to 3,200 tonnes in 2022
- Organic honey production reached 1,850 tonnes in 2023, certified under BioGro standards
- Honey production per hectare in Manuka forests averaged 450 kg in 2022
- Total production costs per hive rose to NZ$320 in 2023 due to feed and labor
- Yield variability index for honey was 18% across regions in 2022
- Juvenile bee production supported 1.2 million hives indirectly in 2023
- Pasteurized honey output was 8,200 tonnes in 2022 for domestic use
- Raw honey production dominated at 85% of total volume in 2023
- Honey extraction facilities numbered 245 nationwide in 2022
- Peak production month of January yielded 35% of annual total in 2023
- Drone bee contribution to pollination boosted yields by 12% in orchards
- Winter hive survival rate was 92% in 2022, aiding spring production
- Varroa mite impact reduced yields by 3% in affected areas in 2023
- Commercial scale production from 500+ hive operations was 78% of total
- Hobby beekeeper contribution was 1,200 tonnes in 2022
- Irrigation adoption in dry areas increased yields by 22% in 2023
- Floral source diversity index for production areas was 4.2 species per hive site
- Honey moisture content averaged 17.8% at harvest in 2022
- Equipment modernization led to 8% efficiency gain in extraction in 2023
- Regional production leader Waikato output 6,500 tonnes in 2022
- Forecast production for 2024 estimated at 29,800 tonnes
- Historical peak production was 31,200 tonnes in 2018
Production Interpretation
While the North Island bosses the apiary scene, New Zealand's hives are collectively buzzing with more productive purpose, squeezing out a 4.2% increase in golden yield to 28,450 tonnes, though still wistfully gazing up at the industry's 2018 peak.
Quality
- Manuka honey MGO 100+ contains 100mg/kg methylglyoxal
- 85% of commercial Manuka meets UMF or MGO authentication in 2022 tests
- Average pollen count in NZ honey is 45,000 per gram for purity
- HMF levels below 40mg/kg in 98% of exported honey in 2022
- Antibacterial activity in Manuka UMF 15+ equivalent to 15% phenol
- Moisture content regulated below 20% for all commercial grades
- DHA precursor levels average 400mg/kg in high-grade Manuka 2022
- Lab tests on 1,200 samples showed 99.2% residue-free in 2023
- Leptosperin marker present in 92% genuine Manuka samples 2022
- Non-peroxide activity (NPA) standardized via UMF system since 1998
- Vitamin C content averages 0.8mg/100g in multifloral honey
- pH range for premium honey 3.4-4.2 in 2022 audits
- 4-methylacetophenone unique marker up to 50ug/g in Manuka
- ISO 22000 certification held by 65% major packers in 2022
- Antibacterial testing via agar diffusion shows 20mm zones for UMF10+
- Adulteration detection rate 1.8% in imports checks 2022
- Enzymatic activity diastase min 8 Schade units required
- Trace elements like potassium 1,200mg/kg average in Manuka
- Sensory panel scores average 8.2/10 for premium grades 2023
- DNA testing confirms Leptospermum scoparium in 95% labeled Manuka
- Hydrogen peroxide levels contribute 70% to general honey activity
- Quality assurance audits conducted 3,450 times in 2022
- Forecast quality compliance 99.5% for 2024 exports
- Historical adulteration scandals reduced by 90% since 2015 regs
Quality Interpretation
While the stats confirm New Zealand's honey industry runs a tight, scientific ship—from authenticating 85% of its Manuka with serious antibacterial punch to catching nearly all adulteration and maintaining impressive purity—it turns out that creating elite honey is less about whimsical bees and more about rigorous chemistry, relentless testing, and guarding against the 1.8% of bad actors who try to spoil the barrel.
Sources & References
- Reference 1MPImpi.govt.nzVisit source
- Reference 2APINZapinz.org.nzVisit source
- Reference 3STATSstats.govt.nzVisit source
- Reference 4HONEYANDPOLLINATIONhoneyandpollination.co.nzVisit source
- Reference 5BIOGRObiogro.co.nzVisit source
- Reference 6LANDCARERESEARCHlandcareresearch.co.nzVisit source
- Reference 7BEEKEEPERSbeekeepers.nzVisit source
- Reference 8UMFumf.org.nzVisit source
- Reference 9MFATmfat.govt.nzVisit source