Top 10 Honey Producing Countries in the World

The month of September celebrates the National Honey Month which allows everyone to appreciate the tireless efforts of bees in producing half a teaspoon of honey after flying 500 miles, and you would not believe it, but the storage or production of honey is being done by female bees. In fact, there are different products in the world which are made of honey or have a mixed of honey. In fact, it’s being used in medicinal applications, health maintenance, and other valuable products that can be used at home. It does not just sweeten the taste of the food that we eat, but it even makes things sweeter and healthier. With the efforts of the National Honey Board in the United States, they have decided to declare the month of September as a National Honey Month in 1989. It’s supported greatly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  You might wonder why the celebration happens in the month of September, simply because the harvesting time for honey falls in this month. Its primary purpose why this recognition is being done yearly every month of September is to make promotion of the beekeeping industry, and as part of that awareness, let’s get to know the top 10 honey producing countries in the world aside from the United States of America that has declared the value of Honey in 1989.

10. Spain

There are different honey producers or suppliers in Spain, but some of its topmost brands are Vitalis Honey Syrup, and Honey Thousand Flowers. In fact, it’s a favorite ingredient in making turronand its part of the traditional Christmas celebration in all their confectionaries. It ranked number 10 as to its recent survey for meeting a total production of honey for about 37,000. You could find multi-flower honeys specifically in Southern part of Spain especially in the province of Granada or Andalusia. This is the place where you could found the rich sources of honey like in avocado, chestnut, orange blossom honey, rosemary, and thyme. Hence, Spain considered Galicia as the best place in Spain where you could find the best and popular honey which is made of blackberry, chestnut, and heather. This is the biggest and largest production figures that they have achieved, and their lowest output recorded was the 2005 record of 27,230 volume of honey. There are about 40 companies that produce over 20 tons of honey in Spain.

9. Ethiopia 

It ranked number 9 on this list for achieving 39,000 total production of honey. Moreover, it is the top producer of honey in Africa while it ranked 4^th as the producer of beeswax in the world. Despite of the inadequacy of technology in the mass production of honey which also limits them to get through the international market, it has managed to maintain to be part of the top 10 honey producing countries in the world. In fact, majority of their products are honeycomb and honey itself. Hence, their major product still focuses on beeswax wherein Ethiopia is maintaining. Their importers are from the European countries, Japan, and some parts in the United States. In fact, it has the biggest population of bees in Africa as well, and they have maintained greatly the bee colonies and some of their best honey products are their natural honey, Ethiopian honey, and white honey.

8. India 

Honey was discovered in India in between 2,000 B.C. and 3,000 B.C and these are supported because of the ancient Indian texts which were popularly known as Vedas. In fact, it was the first food that ancient Indians have tasted since majority of them had inhabited in rocks, and forests as their primary shelters. This is the reason that honey became a part of their lives, and in fact, they actually considered it as a magical substance that could sustain them, and preserve their crops and lands. Beekeeping is one of the primary industries that they have cultivated and developed over time until the formation of Khadi and Village Industries Commission took the development and hasty process of beekeeping. In fact, according to their report, their forest honey alone could produce around 10,000 tons each year. Based on the recent ranking, it has produced a total of 52,000 volume of honey that placed them to number 8^th spot. This honey is being marketed to confectionary, pharmaceutical companies, and other food industries in India.

7. Russia 

According to the pages of history in Russia, honey was their favorite, but things changed after the Soviet Union collapsed, which paved the way to the introduction of chocolates, jams, and other foreign sweet products that diverted the focus of the market. Early on, it’s being used in tea, bread, and pancake. It’s also used in preparing a milk drink, and it became an antiseptic ingredient too. Despite of the higher cost or price of honey in Russia, experts have observed and took note that Russia has the most probable rate of increase in production despite of the lower consumption rate among the citizens in Russia. It has produced a total of 53,000 volume of honey that placed the country in the number seven spot. Hence, primarily, honey is being used in Russia for remedy and in compresses purposes. It became part of the Russian diet before, but it has declined because of the exaggerated proportion that they have allocated before. In fact, its presence has been revived when 19^th century began, and they even hold the yearly Honey Fair or better known as Yamarka Myoda. 

6. Mexico 

Honey has become part of the Mexican cuisines and culture dated back in the time of Mayans, and has held its fame until this present time. The most common types of honey that they have in the market which are the favorite of its citizens are orange blossom honey, and avocado honey. It’s primarily use in savory recipes and as a sweetener. When Mayans used this, it’s for the sole purpose of medicinal value aside from sweetening effect of it. All of which were produced because of the large presence of stingless melliponine bee which is a popular bee in Mexico. Nonetheless, it became extinct, and Africanized bees became the primary source of honey in Mexico. In fact, majority of honey being produced in Mexico comes in varieties of colors which are nectar dependent. Of course, it can be bought these days in jars, candy, and even as nuts flavor. It ranked number 6 on this list for meeting a total production of 56, 808 volume of honey.

5. Ukraine 

Economist and experts have observed great improvement when it comes to honey production of Ukraine. In fact, it is a few steps to the number one spot; much more that it has received recognition from the World Beekeeping Congress Apimondia by winning 4 gold and bronze medals. It’s production and exportation has increased by 50% compared to 2008 results which positively identify the growth of honey in Ukraine. In fact, based on their report, there are about 50 to 70 thousands of tons of honey being produced annually. It has been noted as well that there is a yearly increase of livestock of bees which was the reason why they have left Russia when it comes to overall ranking of countries that have produced great number of honey. The major source of honey comes from their sunflower honey which covers 50% of total production, and followed by Acacia honey and buckwheat of about 10%. The remaining percentage of sources occupied different varieties of honey which are produced in Ukraine. Imagine the difference that Ukraine has in some countries that are part  of this list which are ranked number 6 to 10, it has produced 60, 502 total  production of honey which is 7,000 difference against Russia.

4. Turkey 

It did not only ranked number 4 among the top 10 honey producing countries in the world, but it’s the top country producer of pine honey in the world.    In fact, 92% of piney honey is found in Aegean Region while the remaining 8% is in Greece. Moreover, it has received a certification along with countries like Scotland, and Austria as an organic honey producer which goes the same with New Zealand, Mexico, and Nicaragua. The good thing about these statistics, the consumption rate is still so high in Turkey which significantly indicates that its citizens support their own production of honey. It has an increased production of 73,929 which made up a 13,000 difference against Ukraine.

3. Argentina

Honey is one of the economic boosters of Argentina because it gives 100,000,000 dollars income from their commercial exportation of honey. In fact, they have been exporting about 80% of their honey internationally and most of which come from the Wet Pampa and Santiago del Estero which are known good honey producers in the whole country of Argentina. In fact, there were research, and study conducted to prove that point. It’s not just the producer of honey, but it contributes to the 20% exportation in the world which is being distributed in different countries. Hence, 50% of their production is being exported to Germany. Some of their popular honey products are natural honey bee, natural high quality honey from Argentina, and organic and non-organic pure honey. The only advantage that they have when it comes to honey production is their ability in keeping pure stock of honey compared in other parts of Latin America. It has produced a total of 80,000 volume of honey that has exceeded turkey by 7,000 volume of difference.

2. United States of America

Despite of the drought that majority of the states in America have experienced that also affected the honey crop and its economic status, it has managed to grabbed the second spot on this list of top 10 honey producing countries in the world. Moreover, despite of the extreme low side report, there are other sources that have managed to maintain the extraction and production of honey specifically in Minnesota and Dakota. There are also good sources of honey production in the northeast, Mideast, southeast, and southwest of America. Their popular honey products are natural organic honey which is common favorite or pick in some countries as well since its natural flavor is preserved. There is a wide distribution as well of Africanized honeybees, however, according to history, there are about 300 varieties of honey  which also serve as important pollinators when it comes to agricultural crops not just in the United States, but worldwide. Their honey bee population is classified into two, the managed breeding, and the unmanaged feral population which are sources of artificial and natural productions of honey. It has produced 82,000 volume of honey which is 2,000 volume of difference against Argentina that ranked number 3 on this list.

1. China 

Honey in China could be traced back under the Zhou dynasty which is a known food being served for royal families. Even before the discovery of the medicinal benefits of honey, ancient Chinese people have already used it for medical purposes like healing. It became part of their earliest herbal medicine set before any Chinese medicines came in to the international market. In fact, according to their records, honey could be used for deficiency problems, act as antioxidant in blood, and could build-up resistance against diseases. They have been the number one producer of honey in the world for the past years, and they are still on top of this list since they are major exporter of it in various countries in the world. In fact, some countries would just replace the label of their products, and would claim it as their own. Previously, their major competitors are Mexico and Argentina. It has produced a total of 305,000 tons of honey compared to the United States figures of 82,000 total production of honey. In fact, United States has already imported honey products from their country, and there were also issues of it since 2011.