Top Honey Exporting Countries

Re-labelled Bee Product Scams Scream Out for WTO Controls

Nov 3, 2007
Daniel Workman

Bees create honeycomb - peachyqueen@MORGUEFILE.COM (142925)

A global trade sequel to Seinfeld's Bee Movie could be a World Trade Organization intrigue about illegal imports of contaminated Chinese honey.

Experts can distinguish bee products from top honey exporting countries by the honey colours.

The colour of flowers from which bees collect nectar determines a honey’s colour. For example, honey exports from Vietnam are typically dark amber because their source nectar is extracted from dark-coloured flowers.

China makes the most honey, much of which is light-coloured.

Largest Honey Producers

Countries listed below accounted for almost 65% of global honey output in 2005.

China … 298 thousand metric tonnes (21.5% of global honey production)
Turkey … 82.3 thousand metric tonnes (5.9%)
Argentina … 80 thousand metric tonnes (5.8%)
United States … 79.2 thousand metric tonnes (5.7%)
Ukraine … 71.5 thousand metric tonnes (5.1%)
Russia … 52.1 thousand metric tonnes (3.8%)
India … 52 thousand metric tonnes (3.7%)
Mexico … 50.6 thousand metric tonnes (3.6%)
Ethiopia … 39 thousand metric tonnes (2.8%)
Spain … 37 thousand metric tonnes (2.7%).

Although Chinese authorities are implementing stricter controls, Chinese honey is associated with chloramphenical – an antibiotic sprayed on bee hives. Banned from food processing in many countries, chloramphenical can cause the fatal blood condition aplastic anaemia.

The chloramphenical scare motivated the U.S. to ban Chinese honey in 2001. The European Union (EU) outlawed People’s Republic honey from 2002 to 2003.

Leading Honey Exporters

In 2004, the following nations exported the most honey by weight.

China … 81.3 thousand metric tonnes (24.2% of top ten total)
Argentina … 65.2 thousand metric tonnes (18.6%)
Mexico … 23.4 thousand metric tonnes (6.9%)
Germany … 22.4 thousand metric tonnes (6.6%)
Brazil … 21 thousand metric tonnes (6.2%)
Vietnam … 15.6 thousand metric tonnes (4.6%)
Hungary … 15 thousand metric tonnes (4.4%)
Canada … 14 thousand metric tonnes (4.2%)
Uruguay … 13.4 thousand metric tonnes (4%)
India … 10.4 thousand metric tonnes (3.1%).

The EU has accused about 10 honey exporters including Argentina, Vietnam, Hungary and India of re-labelling and re-shipping contaminated honey originally from China. Re-labelled honey with chloramphenical has been found in European ports, shipments to honey blending companies and grocery stores. Light-coloured Chinese honey re-labelled as Vietnamese honey (normally dark-coloured) also raised alarm bells.

Laundering re-labelled Chinese honey circumvents trade bans. Also, Chinese honey garners the lowest prices in global trade: US$1,094 per metric tonne in 2004. Re-labelled as Argentine honey, the unit price per metric tonne almost doubles to $1,927.

China argues that competitive exporters like New Zealand are spreading false rumours in an attempt to push Chinese honey off of global trade markets. New Zealand honey dictates the highest prices on world markets ($6,813 in 2004).

Biggest Sweet Liquid Importers

The following countries spent the most on honey imports in 2004.

Germany … US$230.7 million (27.5% of top ten total)
United States … $149.6 million (17.8%)
United Kingdom … $75.1 million (8.9%)
Japan … $65 million (7.7%)
France … $54.5 million (6.5%)
Italy … $41.6 million (5%)
Spain … $31.5 million (3.7%)
Saudi Arabia … $26 million (3.1%)
Switzerland … $23.1 million (2.8%)
Netherlands … $56 million (3.7%).

The EU and countries such as America, Japan and Saudi Arabia depend heavily on honey exports. For example, the National Honey Board reports that Americans consume more than 400 million pounds of honey each year while U.S. annual honey production is only 180 million pounds. Similarly, Britain produces a mere 10% of the honey that Brits consume.

Importers must effectively test honey shipments, then stick with proven suppliers. Contaminated honey exporters must be immediately reported via World Trade Organization controls for disciplining.

Sources for this Article

This article presents independent calculations and insights based on key statistics from the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations ( fao.org) & Michael Durham’s article ‘A bitter taste of honey’ (Guardian News, July 21, 2004).