Market research

Honey market in South Korea

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The South Korean honey market experienced steady expansion from 2018 to 2023, with total consumption rising from 28 380 t to 31 759 t. This growth amounted to an increase of nearly 12% over the five-year period, reflecting sustained demand for natural honey.

Market growth was most pronounced in 2020 and 2022, with volume increases of around 3.4% and 3.7% respectively. The year 2021 marked a pause in this trend, as the market expanded by just 0.3%. Throughout the period, the steady rise in domestic production supported the overall supply.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in South Korea
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in South Korea in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in South Korea in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Korea in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Korea in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Korea, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Korea in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Korea in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Korea, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Korea in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Korea in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Korea, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Korea in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Korea in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Korea, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production honey in South Korea

In kind, 2017-2020, t

South Korea was among the world's leading honey producers from 2017 to 2020, ranking 16th globally by production volume during this period.

Top producers of honey, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of honey, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

South Korea's honey production grew for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 28 595 tons of honey, marking a 2.3% increase year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production rose by 10.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in South Korea in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	6.0%	1.9%	2.3%	3.4%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports honey from South Korea

Exports in kind, t

Honey exports from South Korea fell for the third year in a row. In 2020, exports totaled 6 tons, a 63.7% drop compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports declined by 88.5%, which translates to an annualized decrease of 51.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(37.0%)	(49.5%)	(63.7%)	(51.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Thailand accounted for 72.4% of South Korea's total honey exports by volume, with the remainder distributed among a variety of smaller markets.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

South Korea's honey export value declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 86 thousand US dollars, a 49.6% decrease from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value fell by 76.5%, with a compound annual decline rate of 38.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(38.0%)	(24.8%)	(49.6%)	(38.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, the main markets for South Korea's honey exports by value were Thailand (36.1% of total value), the United Arab Emirates (16.8%), and Hong Kong (16.6%). Together, these three destinations made up 69.5% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports honey to South Korea

Imports in kind, t

South Korea imported 1 006 tons of honey in 2020, a 47.2% increase from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 7.6%, with an annualized growth rate of 2.5%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 683 tons, which also saw the largest decline of 31.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	6.0%	(31.1%)	47.2%	2.5%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the primary suppliers of honey to South Korea by volume were the United States (39.7% of imports), Argentina (19.4%), and Canada (13.3%). Combined, these three countries represented 72.4% of total import volume.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, South Korea's honey import value reached 12 457 thousand US dollars, a strong 23.0% increase over the past year. Between 2017 and 2020, import value rose by 32.1%, with an annualized growth rate of 9.7%. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 18.5%, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 31.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	31.7%	(18.5%)	23.0%	9.7%

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, the top sources for South Korea's honey imports by value were the United States (36.7% of total value), New Zealand (26.1%), and Australia (16.8%). Together, these three countries accounted for 79.6% of total import flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io