Honey market in Sierra Leone

Earlier Report Observations

The natural honey market in Sierra Leone expanded steadily, with volume rising from 288 tonnes in 2018 to 1 348 tonnes in 2023. This growth was underpinned by sustained government policies promoting agricultural self-sufficiency and agribusiness development, which directly encouraged honey production. Concurrently, increasing urbanization and a consumer shift towards natural and organic products boosted domestic demand.

Key initiatives included the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security's support for local farming and apiculture, reinforced by broader industrial policies from the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Strengthened agricultural research through the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI) introduced innovations in beekeeping. The launch of the Rice Agribusiness Cluster (SL RAIC) and significant EU funding for the sustainable 'Nature Nourishes' program further enhanced production practices and capacity.

Efforts by the Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA) to attract agribusiness investments and the focus on empowering women entrepreneurs in agriculture helped scale up output. While the COVID-19 pandemic caused global supply chain disruptions, the sector's emphasis on domestic production and resilience supported continued market growth.

Production honey in Sierra Leone

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of honey, 2017-2020

World map of production of honey, 2017-2020

Honey production in Sierra Leone increased in 2020 after two years of decline. In that year, 879.1 t of honey were produced, marking a 25.5% increase compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, production grew by 17.5%, which translates to an annualized rate of 5.5%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 700.5 t, while the largest decline occurred in 2018 with a 5.2% drop.

Annual dynamics of production in Sierra Leone in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports honey from Sierra Leone

Exports in kind, t

The honey export market in Sierra Leone showed significant volatility during the observed period. The highest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 442.7 t, while the lowest was in 2019 at 46.4 t, representing a 9.5-fold difference between these years. In 2020, exports reached 104.4 t, showing a sharp year-over-year improvement of 125.2%. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with an 89.5% drop, while the largest increase was in 2018 with a 582.2% rise.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United States was by far the main destination for Sierra Leone's honey exports in kind, accounting for 96.2% of total flows.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The market for honey exports in value terms experienced noticeable fluctuations during this period. The peak was in 2020 at 317.5 K $ US, while the trough was in 2017, with a 2.4-fold gap between these years. In 2020, exports showed a year-over-year rise of 118.4%. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 with a 39.9% drop.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, the United States dominated the partner structure of honey exports in value terms, consistently accounting for 90.7% of total flows.

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

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

Imports honey to Sierra Leone

Imports in kind, t

The honey import market in Sierra Leone showed noticeable fluctuations in performance during this period. The maximum import volume was recorded in 2018 at 21.1 t, while the minimum was in 2019 at 2.5 t, resulting in an 8.5-fold variation between these years. In 2020, imports reached a total of value_last_year t, up by 72.7% compared to 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with an 88.3% drop.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United Arab Emirates (33.0% of imports in kind), the United Kingdom (28.1% of imports in kind), and the United States (12.1% of imports in kind) accounted for the largest share of honey imports in kind, together comprising 73.2% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Sierra Leone's honey imports in value terms declined for the second consecutive year in 2020, standing at 7.0 K $ US, which indicates a modest 6.4% decrease from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 51.5%, equating to an annualized rate of 21.4%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 15.5 K $ US. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with a 52.0% drop, while the largest increase was in 2018 with an 8.0% rise.

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

Over the period from 2017 to 2020, the United Arab Emirates (38.9% of imports in value terms), the United Kingdom (23.7% of imports in value terms), and India (15.3% of imports in value terms) stood out as the main markets for honey imports in value terms, together representing 77.9% of total flows.

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

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