Honey market in Lebanon

Earlier Report Observations

The natural honey market in Lebanon contracted significantly between 2018 and 2022, with total volume falling from 2,137 tons to 1,368 tons. This decline coincided with a sharp reduction in imports, which dropped from 842 tons to 94 tons, while domestic production also gradually decreased over the period.

In 2023, the market reversed course, expanding to 1,525 tons as imports rebounded to 381 tons. However, local honey production continued to decline, reaching 1,276 tons, indicating a growing reliance on imported supplies to meet domestic demand.

Production honey in Lebanon

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of honey, 2017-2020

World map of production of honey, 2017-2020

Lebanon produced 1 520 tons of honey in 2020, marking an 8.4% increase from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 12.9%, with an average annual growth rate of 4.1%. The most significant decline occurred in 2019, when production fell by 6.6%, while the largest increase was in 2018, with an 11.4% rise.

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

Exports honey from Lebanon

Exports in kind, t

Following two years of decline, honey exports from Lebanon rebounded in 2020, reaching 101.0 tons—a 12.6% year-over-year increase. However, over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 63.9%, translating to an average annual decline of 28.8%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 89.7 tons, which also saw the steepest drop of 56.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan remained the primary buyers of Lebanese honey, accounting for 31.8%, 28.1%, and 18.5% of exports in kind, respectively. Together, these three countries represented 78.4% of total honey exports from Lebanon.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

After a two-year downturn, Lebanon's honey exports in value terms showed a modest recovery in 2020, totaling 886 thousand US dollars—a slight 2.8% increase from the previous year. Overall, between 2017 and 2020, exports in value fell by 28.9%, with an average annual decline of 10.7%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 861 thousand US dollars, while the largest decrease occurred in 2018, dropping by 20.3%.

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

During the 2017-2020 period, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan were the leading destinations for Lebanese honey in value terms, contributing 34.2%, 27.2%, and 17.3% of exports, respectively. Collectively, these three markets accounted for 78.8% of total export value.

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

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

Imports honey to Lebanon

Imports in kind, t

Honey imports into Lebanon declined for the second consecutive year in 2020, reaching 156.6 tons—a 66.6% drop from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 79.8%, with an average annual decline of 41.4%. The highest import volume was in 2018 at 842.4 tons, which also saw the largest increase of 8.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Germany were the key sources of honey imports into Lebanon, representing 37.7%, 29.8%, and 16.5% of imports in kind, respectively. Together, these three countries made up 84.0% of total import volumes.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Honey imports in value terms into Lebanon showed notable fluctuations between 2017 and 2020. Imports peaked in 2019 at 3 207 thousand US dollars and reached their lowest point in 2020 at 916 thousand US dollars, representing a 71.4% decline from the previous year and a 3.5-fold difference between the two years. The largest increase was recorded in 2018, rising by 14.8%.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Germany formed the core of Lebanon's honey imports in value terms, accounting for 39.1%, 29.2%, and 15.1% of imports, respectively. Together, these three partners represented 83.4% of total import value.

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

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