Honey market in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia), 2026

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the honey market in Eastern Europe experienced significant shifts. In 2018, robust production supported a market volume of 159 thousand tons. The following year, the adoption of European labeling practices improved access to the EU market, fostering export growth which, combined with a drop in production, reduced the domestic market to 146 thousand tons. The pandemic in 2020 increased global demand for natural products like honey, but a simultaneous decline in worldwide honey production and a further surge in exports from the region led to a sharp contraction of the local market to 82 thousand tons.

The market partially recovered in 2021 and 2022. New veterinary and certification requirements for honey exports likely temporarily restrained outbound shipments, allowing the market to rebound to 115 thousand tons aided by increased imports. In 2022, the introduction of export quotas to the EU limited foreign sales, contributing to a rise in domestic availability and pushing the market volume up to 134 thousand tons. This trend reversed in 2023, as the war in Ukraine created logistical hurdles and threatened beekeeping operations, reducing production and causing the market to fall back to 98 thousand tons, despite sustained high global demand for honey.

Production honey in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of honey, 2017-2020

World map of production of honey, 2017-2020

Honey production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) has declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 189.2 thousand tons of honey, which represents a 14.8% decrease compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 22.1%, translating to an average annual decline of 8.0%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 243.8 thousand tons, which also saw the largest increase of 0.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Honey production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) has declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the value of honey output reached 610.5 million US dollars, showing a significant year-over-year decrease of 14.9%. Between 2017 and 2020, production value dropped by 22.7%, with an average annual decline of 8.2%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 840.6 million US dollars, which also experienced the largest increase of 6.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports honey from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Exports in kind, K t

Cross-border honey shipments from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) have increased for the second year running. In 2020, the region exported 127.1 thousand tons of honey, marking a 21.9% rise compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports grew by 3.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.1%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 100.4 thousand tons, which also saw the largest decline of 18.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

The structure of honey exports in volume terms from 2017 to 2020 was quite diversified. Germany accounted for 23.3% of exports, Italy for 10.3%, and France for 8.9%. Together, these three countries represented just 42.5% of total export flows, with no single country holding a clearly dominant position.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

After two years of decline, foreign honey supplies from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) have rebounded. In 2020, exports reached 410.1 million US dollars, representing a substantial 21.8% increase compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, export value grew by 2.6%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.9%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 336.6 million US dollars, while the largest decline occurred in 2018 at 13.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, honey from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) was exported to a wide range of markets. Germany accounted for 25.1% of export value, Italy for 13.4%, and France for 9.5%. Together, these three countries represented only 48.0% of total export value, while numerous smaller destinations made up the remaining 52.0%.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020

Imports honey to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Imports in kind, K t

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Imports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 15.3 thousand tons, then peaked in 2019 at 28.3 thousand tons—a 1.9-fold difference between these years. In 2020, honey shipments to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) from abroad amounted to 20.0 thousand tons, marking a dramatic 29.4% decline compared to 2019. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 85.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, China was the largest supplier of honey to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia), accounting for 25.4% of imports by volume. Germany followed with 2.1%, and Spain with 1.3%. Together, these three countries represented 28.8% of total imports, against a backdrop of numerous smaller partners, indicating no single dominant supplier.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Honey imports into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) have increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the region imported approximately 119.0 million US dollars worth of honey, which is 30.1% higher than the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, import value grew by 34%, with an average annual growth rate of 10.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, China was the largest supplier of honey to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value terms, accounting for 16.5% of imports. Germany followed with 5.4%, and New Zealand with 3.2%. Together, these three countries represented just 25.1% of total import value, reflecting a broadly diversified partner base.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020