EU imported €359.3 million worth of honey in 2023

Brussels: In 2023, EU members imported 163 700 tonnes of natural honey from extra-EU countries, worth €359.3 million. At the same time, just 24 900 tonnes were exported by the EU members outside the EU, valued at €146.0 million.

Compared with 2013, honey imports from outside the EU increased by 20% (from 136 300 to 163 700 tonnes) and exports to extra-EU countries rose by 14% (from 21 700 to 24 900 tonnes).

In 2023, imports of honey from countries outside of the EU came mainly from China (60 200 tonnes, or 37% of total extra-EU honey imports), followed by Ukraine (45 800 tonnes, 28%), Argentina (20 400 tonnes, 12%), Mexico (10 700 tonnes, 7%) and Cuba (4 700 tonnes, 3%).

International trade in honey, tonnes, %, 2023. Infographic. See link to full dataset below.

The United Kingdom emerged as the primary export partner in 2023, receiving the largest share of EU honey exports (4 300 tonnes, or 17% of all extra-EU honey exports). Following closely were Saudi Arabia (3 500 tonnes, 14%), Switzerland (3 400 tonnes, 13%), the United States (3 300 tonnes, 13%) and Japan (2 500 tonnes, 10%).

In 2023, Germany was the largest EU importer of honey within the EU, importing 41 000 tonnes of honey from countries outside of the EU, or 25% of all EU imports. Belgium was the second largest importer (31 400 tonnes, 19%), ahead of Poland (23 300 tonnes, 14%), Spain (15 700 tonnes, 10%) and France (7 700 tonnes, 5%).

Spain took the lead as the biggest exporter, sending 7 100 tonnes of honey to countries outside of the EU, or 29% of all extra-EU exports of honey. Germany followed with 5 500 tonnes (22% of all exports), ahead of Romania (1 700 tonnes, 7%), Hungary (1 600 tonnes, 6%) and Greece (1 500 tonnes, 6%).