Overall, the cost of natural honey imports declined by an average -3.3% for all importing countries since 2014 when natural honey purchases were valued at $2.3 billion. Year over year, imported natural honey retreated by -4.7% from 2017 to 2018.
From a continental perspective, European countries bought the highest dollar worth of imported natural honey during 2018 with purchases costing $1.2 billion or 52.3% of the global total. In second place were North American importers at 23.8% while 20% of worldwide natural honey imports were delivered to Asia.
Smaller percentages were sold to customers in Oceania (2.4%), Africa (1.1%) and Latin America (0.3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix for natural honey is 0409.
Natural Honey Imports by Country
Top 15
Below are the 15 countries that spent the most on imported natural honey during 2018.
- United States: US$504.2 million (22.5% of total natural honey imports)
- Germany: $305.7 million (13.6%)
- Japan: $145.4 million (6.5%)
- France: $129.5 million (5.8%)
- United Kingdom: $128.3 million (5.7%)
- Italy: $100.4 million (4.5%)
- Belgium: $72.9 million (3.3%)
- China: $70.1 million (3.1%)
- Spain: $68 million (3%)
- Netherlands: $66.9 million (3%)
- Poland: $62 million (2.8%)
- Saudi Arabia: $57.8 million (2.6%)
- Australia: $52.6 million (2.4%)
- Switzerland: $39.8 million (1.8%)
- Hong Kong: $32 million (1.4%)
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 81.9% of all natural honey imports in 2018. Within parenthesis is the percentage of overall natural honey shipments.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for natural honey since 2014 were: Australia (up 32.9%), Netherlands (up 32.6%), Japan (up 21%) and China (up 19.6%).
Those countries that posted declines in their imported natural honey purchases were led by: Saudi Arabia (down -32.9%), Hong Kong (down -17.1%), France (down -15.7%) and United States (down -13.4%).
USA
Natural Honey Imports into America
America’s global purchases of imported natural honey totaled US$504.2 million in 2018. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which the United States imported the highest dollar value worth of natural honey during 2018. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2014.
- Argentina: US$88.8 million (down -41.1% from 2014)
- India: $83.2 million (up 28.5%)
- Brazil: $81.6 million (up 6.4%)
- Vietnam: $61.1 million (down -52.8%)
- Canada: $47.9 million (up 77.5%)
- New Zealand: $37.2 million (up 186.4%)
- China: $20 million (no 2014 data)
- Ukraine: $17.2 million (down -39.6%)
- Mexico: $13.3 million (down -54%)
- Thailand: $10.1 million (up 11.1%)
- Turkey: $7.5 million (down -3.9%)
- Spain: $5 million (up 343.3%)
- Germany: $4.6 million (up 116.4%)
- Australia: $3.7 million (up 632%)
- France: $3.4 million (up 103.9%)
The listed 15 countries shipped 96.1% of all US natural honey imports in 2018.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of natural honey to United States since 2014 were: Australia (up 632%), Spain (up 343.3%), New Zealand (up 186.4%) and Germany (up 116.4%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their natural honey supplied to American importers included: Mexico (down -54%), Vietnam (down -52.8%), Argentina (down -41.1%) and Ukraine (down -39.6%).
Overall, the value of United States’ natural honey imports retreated by an average -13.4% from all supplying countries since 2014 when natural honey purchases were valued at $582.2 million.
Germany
Natural Honey Imports into Germany
Germany’s global purchases of imported natural honey totaled US$305.7 million in 2018. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Germany imported the highest dollar value worth of natural honey during 2018. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2014.
- Mexico: US$49.3 million (down -12.2% from 2014)
- Argentina: $40.7 million (up 101.2%)
- Ukraine: $26.1 million (down -4.1%)
- Bulgaria: $19.9 million (up 8.7%)
- Chile: $19.4 million (up 29.1%)
- Hungary: $17 million (down -15.5%)
- Spain: $16 million (down -29.7%)
- New Zealand: $15.7 million (up 176.2%)
- Romania: $12.1 million (down -35.3%)
- Turkey: $12.1 million (up 79.6%)
- Cuba: $11.5 million (down -27.4%)
- China: $10.4 million (down -31.9%)
- Brazil: $9.7 million (up 111.6%)
- Italy: $9.6 million (down -45.1%)
- Poland: $5.4 million (up 4.5%)
The listed 15 countries shipped 90% of all German natural honey imports in 2018.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of natural honey to Germany since 2014 were: New Zealand (up 176.2%), Brazil (up 111.6%), Argentina (up 101.2%) and Turkey (up 79.6%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their natural honey supplied to German importers included: Italy (down -45.1%), Romania (down -35.3%), China (down -31.9%) and Spain (down -29.7%).
Overall, the value of Germany’s natural honey imports dipped by an average -5.1% from all supplying countries since 2014 when natural honey purchases were valued at $322 million.
Japan
Natural Honey Imports into Japan
Japan’s global purchases of imported natural honey totaled US$145.4 million in 2018. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Japan imported the highest dollar value worth of natural honey during 2018. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2014.
- China: US$72.9 million (up 14.5% from 2014)
- New Zealand: $23.1 million (up 120.9%)
- Argentina: $14.7 million (up 22.2%)
- Canada: $10.1 million (down -29%)
- Hungary: $5.7 million (down -23.9%)
- Romania: $5.6 million (up 140.5%)
- Mexico: $2.5 million (up 33.8%)
- Myanmar (Burma): $1.6 million (down -13.1%)
- Germany: $1.4 million (up 248%)
- Australia: $1.2 million (up 150.6%)
- Spain: $1.1 million (up 54.1%)
- France: $1 million (up 32.7%)
- Italy: $818,000 (down -16.5%)
- Bulgaria: $591,000 (up 140.2%)
- Thailand: $404,000 (up 469%)
The listed 15 countries shipped 98.2% of all Japanese natural honey imports in 2018.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of natural honey to Japan since 2014 were: Thailand (up 469%), Germany (up 248%), Australia (up 150.6%) and Romania (up 140.5%).
Four countries experienced declines in the value of their natural honey supplied to Japanese importers namely: Canada (down -29%), Hungary (down -23.9%), Italy (down -16.5%) and Myanmar also called Burma (down -13.1%).
Overall, the value of Japan’s natural honey imports expanded by an average 21% from all supplying countries since 2014 when natural honey purchases were valued at $120.2 million.
France
Natural Honey Imports into France
France’s global purchases of imported natural honey totaled US$129.5 million in 2018. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which France imported the highest dollar value worth of natural honey during 2018. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2014.
- Spain: US$28.2 million (down -37.8% from 2014)
- Germany: $17.6 million (up 34.7%)
- Ukraine: $13.4 million (up 0.01%)
- Hungary: $11.6 million (down -19.5%)
- China: $8.7 million (down -20.8%)
- Belgium: $8.5 million (up 30.9%)
- Argentina: $5.5 million (up 269.2%)
- Italy: $5 million (down -55.9%)
- Bulgaria: $4.1 million (down -28.3%)
- Chile: $3.6 million (down -53.1%)
- Romania: $3.5 million (down -35.6%)
- Brazil: $3.1 million (up 800.6%)
- Mexico: $2.9 million (up 14.6%)
- Poland: $2.8 million (up 1606%)
- Cuba: $2 million (up 46.4%)
The listed 15 countries shipped 93.1% of all French natural honey imports in 2018.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of natural honey to France since 2014 were: Poland (up 1,606%), Brazil (up 800.6%), Argentina (up 269.2%) and Cuba (up 46.4%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their natural honey supplied to French importers included: Italy (down -55.9%), Chile (down -53.1%), Spain (down -37.8%) and Romania (down -35.6%).
Overall, the value of France’s natural honey imports declined by an average -15.7% from all supplying countries since 2014 when natural honey purchases were valued at $153.6 million.
Searchable List of Natural Honey Importing Countries in 2018
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the columns below.
| Rank | Importer | Natural Honey Imports | %World Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | United States | $504.2 million | 22.5% |
| 2. | Germany | $305.7 million | 13.6% |
| 3. | Japan | $145.4 million | 6.5% |
| 4. | France | $129.5 million | 5.8% |
| 5. | United Kingdom | $128.3 million | 5.7% |
| 6. | Italy | $100.4 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 | $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 | $32 million | 1.4% |
| 16. | Austria | $29 million | 1.3% |
| 17. | Canada | $28.8 million | 1.3% |
| 18. | Sweden | $24.5 million | 1.1% |
| 19. | Singapore | $24.1 million | 1.1% |
| 20. | Denmark | $19.5 million | 0.9% |
| 21. | United Arab Emirates | $19.4 million | 0.9% |
| 22. | Greece | $19 million | 0.8% |
| 23. | Ireland | $17.8 million | 0.8% |
| 24. | Portugal | $16.3 million | 0.7% |
| 25. | Malaysia | $13.7 million | 0.6% |
| 26. | South Korea | $12.4 million | 0.6% |
| 27. | Romania | $11.4 million | 0.5% |
| 28. | Finland | $10.1 million | 0.5% |
| 29. | Taiwan | $8.8 million | 0.4% |
| 30. | Czech Republic | $8.3 million | 0.4% |
| 31. | Norway | $8.3 million | 0.4% |
| 32. | Indonesia | $8 million | 0.4% |
| 33. | Morocco | $7.1 million | 0.3% |
| 34. | South Africa | $6.6 million | 0.3% |
| 35. | Kuwait | $6.4 million | 0.3% |
| 36. | Oman | $5.6 million | 0.3% |
| 37. | Israel | $5.1 million | 0.2% |
| 38. | Qatar | $4.8 million | 0.2% |
| 39. | Slovenia | $4.8 million | 0.2% |
| 40. | Croatia | $4.7 million | 0.2% |
| 41. | Slovakia | $4.7 million | 0.2% |
| 42. | Iraq | $4 million | 0.2% |
| 43. | Jordan | $3.7 million | 0.2% |
| 44. | Thailand | $3.7 million | 0.2% |
| 45. | Bulgaria | $3.4 million | 0.2% |
| 46. | India | $3.3 million | 0.1% |
| 47. | Lebanon | $2.9 million | 0.1% |
| 48. | Lithuania | $2.8 million | 0.1% |
| 49. | Cyprus | $2.5 million | 0.1% |
| 50. | Libya | $2.5 million | 0.1% |
| 51. | Pakistan | $2.2 million | 0.1% |
| 52. | Vietnam | $2.1 million | 0.1% |
| 53. | Costa Rica | $2.1 million | 0.1% |
| 54. | Bahrain | $2 million | 0.1% |
| 55. | Luxembourg | $1.9 million | 0.1% |
| 56. | Mauritius | $1.7 million | 0.1% |
| 57. | Philippines | $1.4 million | 0.1% |
| 58. | Macao | $1.4 million | 0.1% |
| 59. | Estonia | $1.4 million | 0.1% |
| 60. | Bangladesh | $1.3 million | 0.1% |
| 61. | Panama | $1.3 million | 0.1% |
| 62. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $1.2 million | 0.1% |
| 63. | Nepal | $1.2 million | 0.1% |
| 64. | North Macedonia | $1.2 million | 0.1% |
| 65. | Colombia | $1.1 million | 0.1% |
| 66. | Yemen | $1.1 million | 0.05% |
| 67. | Malta | $1.1 million | 0.05% |
| 68. | Latvia | $1 million | 0.04% |
| 69. | Montenegro | $969,000 | 0.04% |
| 70. | Botswana | $964,000 | 0.04% |
| 71. | Iceland | $959,000 | 0.04% |
| 72. | Algeria | $778,000 | 0.03% |
| 73. | Namibia | $713,000 | 0.03% |
| 74. | Sri Lanka | $642,000 | 0.03% |
| 75. | Russia | $630,000 | 0.03% |
| 76. | Belarus | $590,000 | 0.03% |
| 77. | Brunei Darussalam | $542,000 | 0.02% |
| 78. | Angola | $522,000 | 0.02% |
| 79. | Maldives | $506,000 | 0.02% |
| 80. | Barbados | $486,000 | 0.02% |
| 81. | Tunisia | $439,000 | 0.02% |
| 82. | Bahamas | $421,000 | 0.02% |
| 83. | Bermuda | $419,000 | 0.02% |
| 84. | Andorra | $388,000 | 0.02% |
| 85. | Papua New Guinea | $362,000 | 0.02% |
| 86. | Kenya | $359,000 | 0.02% |
| 87. | Cambodia | $351,000 | 0.02% |
| 88. | Kazakhstan | $347,000 | 0.02% |
| 89. | Myanmar | $331,000 | 0.01% |
| 90. | New Zealand | $330,000 | 0.01% |
| 91. | Cabo Verde | $286,000 | 0.01% |
| 92. | Serbia | $266,000 | 0.01% |
| 93. | Brazil | $239,000 | 0.01% |
| 94. | Senegal | $237,000 | 0.01% |
| 95. | Azerbaijan | $234,000 | 0.01% |
| 96. | Lesotho | $212,000 | 0.01% |
| 97. | Egypt | $201,000 | 0.01% |
| 98. | Greenland | $195,000 | 0.01% |
| 99. | Gabon | $190,000 | 0.01% |
| 100. | Ivory Coast | $186,000 | 0.01% |
| 101. | Iran | $177,000 | 0.01% |
| 102. | Mongolia | $177,000 | 0.01% |
| 103. | Sudan | $171,000 | 0.01% |
| 104. | Somalia | $163,000 | 0.01% |
| 105. | Eswatini | $158,000 | 0.01% |
| 106. | Nigeria | $155,000 | 0.01% |
| 107. | Albania | $155,000 | 0.01% |
| 108. | Peru | $152,000 | 0.01% |
| 109. | Uganda | $145,000 | 0.01% |
| 110. | Bhutan | $145,000 | 0.01% |
| 111. | Curaçao | $143,000 | 0.01% |
| 112. | Bolivia | $140,000 | 0.01% |
| 113. | Democr. Rep. Congo | $136,000 | 0.01% |
| 114. | Syrian Arab Republic | $125,000 | 0.01% |
| 115. | Aruba | $124,000 | 0.01% |
| 116. | Mozambique | $123,000 | 0.01% |
| 117. | Ethiopia | $122,000 | 0.01% |
| 118. | Ghana | $113,000 | 0.01% |
| 119. | Armenia | $108,000 | 0.005% |
| 120. | Palestine | $104,000 | 0.005% |
| 121. | Mali | $100,000 | 0.004% |
| 122. | Faroe Islands | $91,000 | 0.004% |
| 123. | Seychelles | $91,000 | 0.004% |
| 124. | Moldova | $89,000 | 0.004% |
| 125. | Congo | $83,000 | 0.004% |
| 126. | Georgia | $82,000 | 0.004% |
| 127. | Malawi | $82,000 | 0.004% |
| 128. | Dominican Republic | $79,000 | 0.004% |
| 129. | Turkey | $76,000 | 0.003% |
| 130. | Equatorial Guinea | $66,000 | 0.003% |
| 131. | Honduras | $64,000 | 0.003% |
| 132. | Guyana | $63,000 | 0.003% |
| 133. | Ukraine | $63,000 | 0.003% |
| 134. | Trinidad/Tobago | $62,000 | 0.003% |
| 135. | Afghanistan | $62,000 | 0.003% |
| 136. | Gibraltar | $49,000 | 0.002% |
| 137. | Cayman Islands | $47,000 | 0.002% |
| 138. | Central African Rep | $47,000 | 0.002% |
| 139. | Laos | $46,000 | 0.002% |
| 140. | Kyrgyzstan | $41,000 | 0.002% |
| 141. | Djibouti | $40,000 | 0.002% |
| 142. | Cook Islands | $40,000 | 0.002% |
| 143. | Tanzania | $33,000 | 0.001% |
| 144. | Tonga | $24,000 | 0.001% |
| 145. | Comoros | $24,000 | 0.001% |
| 146. | Ecuador | $23,000 | 0.001% |
| 147. | Mexico | $23,000 | 0.001% |
| 148. | New Caledonia | $23,000 | 0.001% |
| 149. | Timor-Leste | $22,000 | 0.001% |
| 150. | Mauritania | $19,000 | 0.001% |
| 151. | Fiji | $19,000 | 0.001% |
| 152. | US Minor Outlying Is | $17,000 | 0.001% |
| 153. | Togo | $17,000 | 0.001% |
| 154. | St. Pierre/Miquelon | $16,000 | 0.001% |
| 155. | Madagascar | $16,000 | 0.001% |
| 156. | Guinea | $14,000 | 0.001% |
| 157. | Niger | $13,000 | 0.001% |
| 158. | Chad | $13,000 | 0.001% |
| 159. | Burkina Faso | $13,000 | 0.001% |
| 160. | Uzbekistan | $13,000 | 0.001% |
| 161. | Liberia | $11,000 | 0.0005% |
| 162. | Cameroon | $10,000 | 0.0004% |
| 163. | Antigua/Barbuda | $8,000 | 0.0004% |
| 164. | Haiti | $8,000 | 0.0004% |
| 165. | North Korea | $7,000 | 0.0003% |
| 166. | Tajikistan | $7,000 | 0.0003% |
| 167. | Wallis/Futuna Is | $7,000 | 0.0003% |
| 168. | Sao Tome/Principe | $6,000 | 0.0003% |
| 169. | Northern Mariana Is | $6,000 | 0.0003% |
| 170. | Saint Lucia | $5,000 | 0.0002% |
| 171. | Zambia | $5,000 | 0.0002% |
| 172. | Benin | $5,000 | 0.0002% |
| 173. | Br, Indian Ocean Terr | $4,000 | 0.0002% |
| 174. | Vanuatu | $4,000 | 0.0002% |
| 175. | Nauru | $4,000 | 0.0002% |
| 176. | Sierra Leone | $4,000 | 0.0002% |
| 177. | Zimbabwe | $4,000 | 0.0002% |
| 178. | Uruguay | $4,000 | 0.0002% |
| 179. | Marshall Islands | $3,000 | 0.0001% |
| 180. | Grenada | $3,000 | 0.0001% |
| 181. | Guatemala | $3,000 | 0.0001% |
| 182. | British Virgin Islands | $3,000 | 0.0001% |
| 183. | Cuba | $3,000 | 0.0001% |
| 184. | Burundi | $2,000 | 0.0001% |
| 185. | Jamaica | $2,000 | 0.0001% |
| 186. | St Maarten (Dutch) | $2,000 | 0.0001% |
| 187. | Guinea-Bissau | $2,000 | 0.0001% |
| 188. | Rwanda | $2,000 | 0.0001% |
| 189. | Micronesia | $1,000 | 0.00004% |
| 190. | Norfolk Island | $1,000 | 0.00004% |
| 191. | Nicaragua | $1,000 | 0.00004% |
| 192. | Belize | $1,000 | 0.00004% |
| 193. | Chile | $1,000 | 0.00004% |
| 194. | French Polynesia | $1,000 | 0.00004% |
| 195. | Gambia | $1,000 | 0.00004% |
| 196. | El Salvador | $1,000 | 0.00004% |
See also Natural Honey Exports by Country, America’s Top Trading Partners and Germany’s Top Trading Partners
Research Sources:
Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on May 1, 2019
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on May 1, 2019
The World Factbook, Field Listing: Exports – Commodities, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on May 1, 2019
Wikipedia, Honey. Accessed on May 1, 2019