India’s Honey Output and Exports Rise as International Prices Weaken
India’s honey production is forecast to increase from 146,000 tonnes in 2025 to about 154,000 tonnes in 2026, while exports could grow by around 9%. However, the average export price may fall by about 20% to $1,645 per tonne, limiting gains for producers and exporters.
Production growth outpaces leading origins
India is increasing honey production faster than several major producing countries, but the additional supply has yet to translate into stronger pricing in foreign markets. Aaj Tak, citing a joint report by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and CRISIL, said Indian output could rise from 146,000 tonnes in 2025 to about 154,000 tonnes in 2026.
China remains the world’s largest honey producer. Its production is expected to increase from about 530,000 tonnes in 2025 to 550,000 tonnes in 2026. Although India’s total output remains far below China’s, its rate of production growth is higher. Meanwhile, production in Turkey and Iran, ranked among the world’s other leading origins, has declined by about 2%, according to Aaj Tak.
The expansion strengthens India’s available supply at a time when global demand remains steady. The United States is the largest honey importer, making access to major consumer markets particularly important for producers seeking to place growing volumes abroad.
Export volumes rise but unit values fall
India’s honey exports are forecast to grow by about 9% in 2026, compared with an estimated increase of around 6% for China. The volume outlook suggests that Indian suppliers are expanding their presence overseas, yet the expected price movement points to weak value capture from that growth.
Indian honey was exported at about $2,050 per tonne in 2025. The APEDA-CRISIL projections cited by Aaj Tak indicate that the price could decline to approximately $1,645 per tonne in 2026, a fall of about 20%. The contraction in unit value could offset part of the benefit from higher production and export volumes for beekeepers, processors and traders.
China may also face softer pricing, with its honey prices expected to fall by about 4%. Other competing origins are moving in the opposite direction: export prices for honey from Brazil, Ukraine and Argentina are expected to increase. Brazilian honey is projected to remain the most expensive, rising from $3,240 per tonne in 2025 to about $3,390 per tonne in 2026.
Quality and market positioning become critical
The widening difference between Indian and Brazilian prices shows that production scale alone does not determine export returns. Product quality, variety, origin recognition and access to higher-value buyers can influence the prices exporters obtain. For India, the central challenge is therefore not simply selling more honey, but improving the value earned from each tonne.
APEDA is supporting efforts to diversify markets and products. With its assistance, a farmer producer organisation recently exported a shipment of mustard honey to Dubai. India is also promoting beekeeping in Himalayan regions to improve honey quality and expand the range of varieties available to buyers.
These initiatives are intended to build a clearer identity for Indian honey and secure better prices internationally. In the near term, however, the forecast combination of 154,000 tonnes of production, 9% export growth and a price of $1,645 per tonne indicates that suppliers will compete primarily through higher volumes. Whether India can convert that expansion into stronger margins will depend on quality differentiation and access to markets willing to pay for distinct origins and varieties.
