Honey Situation and Outlook in Selected Countries

 

Argentina

 

Honey production in 1999 is forecast at a record 85,000 tons, 13 percent above the revised 1998 output. Unfavorable weather conditions during 1998 negatively impacted honey production and decreased yields from 38.9 kg/colony to 35.7 kg/colony. However, these weather conditions were not as severe as first expected and the 1998 production estimate was raised by 25 percent, to 75,000 tons. Argentina is the only major producing country in which the number of producing colonies is growing, with growth at 22 percent over the past 3 years.

 

In response to the higher production, exports in 1999 are forecast at 75,000 tons, 8 percent higher than the revised 1998 shipments. Most Argentine honey is exported in bulk in 300 kilogram drums, with only a small amount of honey packaged in jars and exported to Brazil. Honey is exported during the entire year with the heaviest export flow taking place between March and May. The United States and Germany are the main export markets, accounting for 75 percent of total shipments. Other key export markets include Spain, Italy, the UK, and Japan.

 

Only about 8 percent of Argentina’s honey production is consumed domestically. In 1999, honey consumption is forecast to be boosted by the high availability. Generally, Argentine consumption fluctuates widely in relation to the level of production and exports.

 

Canada

 

Canada’s honey production in 1999 is forecast at 34,000 tons, 20 percent below the record 1998 output. Favorable rainfall and temperature conditions in the major Canadian honey producing areas resulted in good conditions for bee activity and above average yields, though not matching last year’s record harvest.

 

Canada’s honey exports in 1999 are forecast at 15,000 tons, 34 percent above the previous year’s shipments, as high carry over stocks remained available for export. The United States and Germany are expected to account for most of this increase. Canada has no quantitative restrictions on honey imports from the United States, but market opportunities for U.S. honey remain limited, reflecting Canada’s surplus production position and a strong U.S. dollar.

 

Canada has banned imports of live U.S. bees since 1987 due to the presence of Varroa mite in certain U.S. states. Canada allows the importation of queen bees only from Hawaii under strict health measures. The Government of Canada has been extending the import ban at two year intervals, with the current honeybee import prohibition order expiring in December 1999.

 

China

 

China’s honey production in 1999 is forecast at 180,000 tons, an increase of 16 percent over the previous year. This level of production would signal a return to average production levels, recovering from the poor 1998 harvest, which was adversely affected by poor weather conditions and bee diseases.

 

Chinese exports are forecast at 80,000 tons in 1999, a 2 percent increase from 1998. According to the Honey Suspension Agreement between the United States and China, the price for honey exported from China to the United States was determined by a reference point set three months prior to actual trading. Exports to all destinations are forecast to increase slightly in 1999. The largest markets for Chinese honey are Japan, the United States, Germany, Belgium, and Spain.

 

Germany

 

Germany’s honey production in 1999 is forecast at 13,000 tons, 20 percent below the previous year’s output of 16,306 tons. The 1998 production estimate was raised by 9 percent as poor weather did not have as severe effects as initially expected. National production potential continued to decrease as the number of apiarists and number of commercial colonies have both slowly declined in recent years.

 

Germany, the world’s largest importer of honey is forecast to decrease imports slightly in 1999, to 91,000 tons, because of high stock levels built up in 1998. The bulk of imports are from Argentina, China, and Mexico and arrive in large containers that are processed further before domestic sale or re-export. Imports from the United States in 1998 totaled 585 tons. The German market provides opportunities for U.S. honey processors, especially if the honey is marketed in attractive jars (i.e. appealing to children) or plastic containers in consumer-friendly sizes.

 

Mexico

 

Honey production in 1998 is forecast at 57,500 tons, 3 percent above the 1998 estimate. The increase in production in 1999 is mainly due to favorable weather conditions in Mexico’s major honey producing regions, in addition to the gradual improvement in pest control and modernization of the industry.

 

Mexican producers are currently gaining knowledge and experience in dealing with the serious problems of the Varroa mite and the Africanization of apiaries. Small and non-traditional hobbyist producers continue to leave the industry because of lack of experience with these problems, while the remaining producers are more equipped to implement the necessary control practices. However, production of queen bees, which are used to prevent Africanization of beehives, is still insufficient to cover domestic demand.

 

Exports of honey in 1998 are forecast at 29,000 tons, 10 percent above 1998 shipments. Major export markets for Mexican honey include Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia. Mexico’s honey industry largely focuses on international markets because honey is more expensive than other sweeteners, such as sugar, for use in the domestic sweetener market.

 

United States

 

The first official estimate of 1999 U.S. honey production, based on an objective survey, will not be available from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) until February 2000.

 

Weather conditions were variable throughout the country for the 1999 season, with yields expected to decrease slightly. Most sources expect production in 1999 to be approximately 90,000 tons, 10 percent below last year’s output. Nearly half of all bee colonies and more than half of all U.S. honey production in the United States is located in California, Florida, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

 

According to industry sources, the numbers of apiarists and bee colonies continue to decline due to increasing losses from mites and other diseases and rising production costs. Small apiarists continue to leave the market because of low prices and the increasing cost and time needed to maintain colonies that are highly productive and free of pests.

 

Exports of U.S. honey in 1999 are forecast at 4,000 tons, a 15 percent decrease from last year’s shipments and roughly equal to 1997 exports. U.S. imports in 1999 are forecast at 77,000 tons, a 28 percent increase from 1998.

 

The United States is one of the world’s largest markets for industrial honey. This sector accounts for approximately 45 percent of total domestic consumption. The primary users of industrial honey are bakery, health food, and cereal manufacturers. Other users, such as the food service industry, account for another 10 percent of domestic consumption. Individual consumers, who purchase small amounts of honey for personal use also significantly contribute to overall consumption in the United States.

 

 

 

The FAS Attache Report search engine contains detailed reports on Honey for more all the countries described above. For information on production and trade, contact Mark Petry at 202-720-0897. For information on marketing contact Yvette Wedderburn-Bomersheim at 202-720-0911.

Last modified: Thursday, April 06, 2000