Honey market in GCC

Earlier Report Observations

The GCC natural honey market volume saw a substantial increase in 2019, rising to 39 986 t. This growth was preceded by the 2018 Honey Market Exhibition at Souq Waqif in Qatar, which created a platform for industry exchange and supported higher honey imports, diversifying the local market and stimulating consumer interest.

After the 2019 peak, the market contracted to 36 151 t in 2020. It then entered a phase of gradual recovery, reaching 38 403 t by 2022, before declining again to 34 283 t in 2023 as import and consumption patterns shifted.

Entering 2024, the market environment was influenced by new EU batch-level traceability regulations requiring investment in tracking technology, which affected Gulf honey suppliers importing from Europe. Concurrently, the expansion of specialized Saudi honey stores and growing consumer health awareness continued to shape demand for natural and organic honey.

Production honey in GCC

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of honey, 2017-2020

World map of production of honey, 2017-2020

Honey production in the GCC has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 2 772 tonnes of honey, representing a significant year-over-year increase of 268.0%. From 2017 to 2020, production rose by 279.8%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 56.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in GCC in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports honey from GCC

Exports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable pattern over the period. Import levels varied significantly, with a 2.5-fold difference between the peak in 2017 and the low in 2019. In 2020, GCC exported 7 466 tonnes of honey, up 91.6% from 2019. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 3 898 tonnes, and the largest decline occurred that same year, falling by 38.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from GCC in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the export market for honey in kind was diverse, with Yemen (6.5% of exports in kind), Jordan (5.9%), and Lebanon (4.2%) collectively making up just 16.5% of total flows. The remaining 83.5% was distributed among numerous other countries.

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

World map of product's exports from GCC in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

The data shows irregular fluctuations, pointing to a volatile market environment. The lowest export value was in 2019, while the highest was reached in 2020, with a 1.7-fold gap between these years. In 2020, GCC exported 39.2 million US dollars worth of honey, marking a 74.8% increase year-over-year. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 22.4 million US dollars, and the largest decline occurred in 2018, dropping by 36.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from GCC in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Yemen (12.6% of exports in value terms), Jordan (6.0%), and Lebanon (4.4%) played a notable but not dominant role as buyers of honey from the GCC. Together, they accounted for only 23.0% of total exports in value terms.

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

World map of product's exports from GCC in value, 2017-2020

Imports honey to GCC

Imports in kind, t

After two years of growth, GCC's honey import volume decreased. In 2020, the region imported 40 845 tonnes of honey, down 5.3% from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 27.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.5%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 43 131 tonnes, and the largest increase occurred that year, rising by 17.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to GCC in kind, 2017-2020, t

An analysis of imports in kind from 2017 to 2020 reveals a broad distribution across many markets. India (14.9% of imports in kind), Germany (12.4%), and Pakistan (12.1%) together accounted for only 39.4% of total flows, while a significant 60.6% came from other partners.

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

World map of product's imports to GCC in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, GCC imported 185.8 million US dollars worth of honey, indicating a dramatic year-over-year rise of 36.7%. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 40.5%, equating to an annualized rate of 12.0%. The largest decline was recorded in 2019, falling by 1.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to GCC in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

During 2017–2020, imports of honey to the GCC in value terms were spread across a large number of markets. Germany (17.0% of imports in value terms), Yemen (8.7%), and India (8.5%) jointly accounted for only 34.2% of total flows.

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

World map of product's imports to GCC in value, 2017-2020