Global imports of natural honey totaled $2.2 billion in 2018

According to the latest market report from World's Top Exports, since the purchase of natural honey in 2014 was worth $2.3 billion, the import cost of natural honey in all importing countries has fallen by an average of 3.3%. From 2017 to 2018, imported natural honey decreased by 4.7% year-on-year.

The report shows that European countries purchased the highest value imported natural honey in 2018, costing $1.2 billion, accounting for 52.3% of the global total. In second place is North American importers, accounting for 23.8%, while 20% of global natural honey imports are exported to Asia.

A smaller percentage of products are sold to Oceania (2.4%), Africa (1.1%) and Latin America (0.3%) (excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean).

15 countries that spent the most on imported natural honey in 2018:

1. United States: $504.2 million (22.5% of total natural honey imports)

2. Germany: $305.7 million (13.6%)

3. Japan: $145.4 billion (6.5%)

4. France: $129.5 million (5.8%)

5. United Kingdom: $128.3 million (5.7%)

6. Italy: $104 million (4.5%)

7. Belgium: $72.9 million (3.3%)

8. China: $70.1 million (3.1%)

9. Spain: $68 million (3%)

10. Netherlands: $66.9 million (3%)

11. Poland: US$62 million (2.8%)

12. Saudi Arabia: $57.8 million (2.6%)

13. Australia: $52.6 million (2.4%)

14. Switzerland: $39.8 million (1.8%)

15. Hong Kong, China: $32 million (1.4%)

In 2018, the above 15 countries and regions purchased 81.9% of all natural honey imports. Among the above countries, the fastest growing natural honey markets since 2014 are: Australia (up 32.9%), the Netherlands (up 32.6%), Japan (up 21%) and China (up 19.6%). The countries with reduced imports of imported natural honey were: Saudi Arabia (down 32.9%), Hong Kong (down 17.1%), France (down 15.7%) and the United States (down 13.4%).