The overall value of natural honey imports increased by an average 11.5% for all importing countries since 2017 when natural honey purchases were valued at $2.38 billion.
Year over year, globally imported natural honey accelerated by 16.9% from $2.27 billion during 2020.
The 5 biggest importers (United States of America, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom and France) bought over half (53%) of all natural honey imported during 2021.
From a continental perspective, European countries imported the highest dollar worth of natural honey with purchases totaling $1.3 billion or 48.7% of the global total. In second place were buyers in Asia at 26.6% while another 21.5% of worldwide natural honey imports was delivered to North America.
Smaller percentages were sold to customers in Oceania (1.36%) led by Australia, then Africa (1.38%) and Latin America (0.4%) 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
Below are the 15 countries that spent the most on imported natural honey during 2021.
- United States: US$666.6 million (25.2% of imported natural honey)
- Germany: $311.8 million (11.8%)
- Japan: $169.9 million (6.4%)
- United Kingdom: $134.5 million (5.1%)
- France: $120.9 million (4.6%)
- Italy: $102.7 million (3.9%)
- China: $96.2 million (3.6%)
- Poland: $91.4 million (3.4%)
- Saudi Arabia: $86.2 million (3.3%)
- Belgium: $85.7 million (3.2%)
- Spain: $83.4 million (3.2%)
- Netherlands: $64.9 million (2.5%)
- Switzerland: $43.4 million (1.6%)
- Canada: $37.9 million (1.4%)
- United Arab Emirates: $35.1 million (1.3%)
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for natural honey since 2020 were: United States of America (up 51%), Italy (up 26.9%), Spain (up 26.2%) and Belgium (up 21.8%).
Three top countries posted declines in their imported natural honey purchases namely Saudi Arabia (down -17.9% from 2020), France (down -6.5%) and Japan (down -2.2%).
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 80.5% of all imported natural honey in 2021.
Natural Honey Imports into the United States
America’s global purchases of imported natural honey totaled US$666.6 million in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which the United States imported the highest dollar value worth of natural honey during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- Argentina: US$153.3 million (up 59% from 2020)
- India: $123.7 million (up 99%)
- Brazil: $120.9 million (up 66.5%)
- Vietnam: $98.7 million (up 46%)
- New Zealand: $62.7 million (up 38.3%)
- Mexico: $16.2 million (up 69.3%)
- Uruguay: $14.1 million (up 80.8%)
- Canada: $14 million (down -3.5%)
- Ukraine: $13.5 million (down -33.4%)
- Turkey: $9 million (up 53.3%)
- Spain: $5.4 million (down -12.6%)
- Australia: $5.1 million (up 6.2%)
- Hungary: $4.1 million (up 24.6%)
- Germany: $3.7 million (down -20.2%)
- France: $2.9 million (up 21.7%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 97.1% of natural honey imported by the United States of America in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of natural honey to the United States since 2020 were: India (up 99%), Uruguay (up 80.8%), Mexico (up 69.3%) and Brazil (up 66.5%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their natural honey supplied to American importers included: Ukraine (down -33.4%), Germany (down -20.2%), Spain (down -12.6%) and Canada (down -3.5%).
Overall, the value of America’s imported natural honey rose by an average 51% from all supplying countries since 2020 when natural honey purchased cost $441.5 million.
Natural Honey Imports into Germany
Germany’s global purchases of imported natural honey totaled US$311.8 million in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Germany imported the highest dollar value worth of natural honey during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- Mexico: US$38.1 million (up 9.3% from 2020)
- New Zealand: $35.1 million (up 41%)
- Argentina: $30.3 million (down -6.8%)
- Ukraine: $29.1 million (up 0.4%)
- Romania: $24.2 million (up 22.7%)
- Bulgaria: $20 million (up 19.9%)
- Brazil: $18.4 million (up 48.5%)
- Spain: $18.2 million (down -1.6%)
- Hungary: $16.9 million (down -9.6%)
- Chile: $11 million (up 100.9%)
- Cuba: $8.7 million (down -1.4%)
- China: $7.4 million (up 37.3%)
- Italy: $6.7 million (down -8.5%)
- France: $4.9 million (up 161.5%)
- Greece: $4.8 million (up 69.7%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 87.7% of natural honey imported by Germany in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of natural honey to Germany since 2020 were: France (up 161.5%), Chile (up 100.9%), Greece (up 69.7%) and Brazil (up 48.5%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their natural honey supplied to German importers included: Hungary (down -9.6%), Italy (down -8.5%), Argentina (down -6.8%) and Spain (down -1.6%).
Overall, the value of Germany’s imported natural honey went up by an average 11.6% from all supplying countries since 2020 when natural honey purchased cost $279.5 million.
Natural Honey Imports into Japan
Japan’s global purchases of imported natural honey totaled US$169.9 million in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Japan imported the highest dollar value worth of natural honey during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- China: US$67 million (down -8.8% from 2020)
- New Zealand: $28.5 million (down -33%)
- Canada: $22.2 million (up 34.1%)
- Argentina: $16.1 million (up 18.5%)
- Hungary: $8.2 million (up 1.4%)
- Australia: $4.8 million (up 31.8%)
- Mexico: $3.6 million (up 136.1%)
- Myanmar: $2.8 million (up 14.4%)
- Ukraine: $2.4 million (up 281.6%)
- Brazil: $1.7 million (up 44%)
- Germany: $1.5 million (up 3.8%)
- Romania: $1.34 million (down -33.1%)
- France: $1.24 million (up 25.8%)
- Vietnam: $1.24 million (up 869.5%)
- Bulgaria: $1.23 million (up 42.9%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 96.5% of natural honey imported by Japan in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of natural honey to Japan since 2020 were: Vietnam (up 869.5%), Ukraine (up 281.6%), Mexico (up 136.1%) and Brazil (up 44%).
A trio of top providers experienced declines in the value of their natural honey supplied to Japanese importers included: Romania (down -33.1%), New Zealand (down -33%) and mainland China (down -8.8%).
Overall, the value of Japan’s imported natural honey flatlined via an average -2.2% drop from all supplying countries since 2020 when natural honey purchased cost $173.7 million.
Natural Honey Imports into the United Kingdom
Britain’s global purchases of imported natural honey totaled US$134.5 million in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which the UK imported the highest dollar value worth of natural honey during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- New Zealand: US$46.3 million (up 12.1% from 2020)
- China: $39.5 million (up 2.5%)
- Poland: $11.5 million (up 8%)
- Mexico: $9.2 million (up 60.2%)
- Italy: $3.6 million (up 223.3%)
- Germany: $2.9 million (down -44.8%)
- Brazil: $2.8 million (up 136.5%)
- Vietnam: $2.1 million (down -27.8%)
- Belgium: $2 million (up 330.5%)
- Spain: $1.8 million (down -25.7%)
- Ireland: $1.7 million (up 12.4%)
- Romania: $1.6 million (down -43.4%)
- Argentina: $1.3 million (up 42.4%)
- France: $1.28 million (up 82.9%)
- Ukraine: $1.1 million (up 43%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 95.7% of natural honey imported by the United Kingdom in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of natural honey to Britain since 2020 were: Belgium (up 330.5%), Italy (up 223.3%), Brazil (up 136.5%) and France (up 82.9%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their natural honey supplied to UK importers included: Germany (down -44.8%), Romania (down -43.4%), Vietnam (down -27.8%) and Spain (down -25.7%).
Overall, the value of the United Kingdom’s imported natural honey expanded by an average 10.9% from all supplying countries since 2020 when natural honey purchased cost $121.3 million.
Searchable List of Natural Honey Importing Countries in 2021
The 100 key importers of natural honey showcased in the automated database below represent 99.7% of the total value of natural honey imported around the globe during 2021.
| Rank | Importer | Natural Honey Imports (US$) | 2020-1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | United States | $666,567,000 | +51% |
| 2. | Germany | $311,820,000 | +11.6% |
| 3. | Japan | $169,851,000 | -2.2% |
| 4. | United Kingdom | $134,509,000 | +10.9% |
| 5. | France | $120,858,000 | -6.5% |
| 6. | Italy | $102,741,000 | +26.9% |
| 7. | China | $96,151,000 | +7.8% |
| 8. | Poland | $91,354,000 | +15.6% |
| 9. | Saudi Arabia | $86,232,000 | -17.9% |
| 10. | Belgium | $85,692,000 | +21.8% |
| 11. | Spain | $83,422,000 | +26.2% |
| 12. | Netherlands | $64,944,000 | +15.5% |
| 13. | Switzerland | $43,404,000 | +16% |
| 14. | Canada | $37,885,000 | +19.3% |
| 15. | United Arab Emirates | $35,116,000 | +3.5% |
| 16. | Australia | $34,809,000 | -13.2% |
| 17. | Indonesia | $32,527,000 | +24.1% |
| 18. | Austria | $28,825,000 | +14.8% |
| 19. | Denmark | $25,941,000 | +64.6% |
| 20. | Singapore | $24,708,000 | +6.9% |
| 21. | Portugal | $21,206,000 | +23.7% |
| 22. | Hong Kong | $20,220,000 | +23.1% |
| 23. | Czech Republic | $20,032,000 | +64.6% |
| 24. | Sweden | $19,203,000 | -11.9% |
| 25. | Greece | $17,526,000 | +8.5% |
| 26. | Romania | $16,027,000 | -3.5% |
| 27. | South Korea | $15,346,000 | +23.2% |
| 28. | Malaysia | $15,285,000 | +33% |
| 29. | Ireland | $14,326,000 | -35.5% |
| 30. | Bulgaria | $13,248,000 | +284.3% |
| 31. | Kuwait | $12,447,000 | -36.7% |
| 32. | Hungary | $11,617,000 | 0% |
| 33. | Morocco | $10,619,000 | +12.4% |
| 34. | Taiwan | $10,602,000 | +7.6% |
| 35. | Finland | $10,200,000 | +8.7% |
| 36. | Norway | $9,260,000 | +13% |
| 37. | Slovakia | $8,945,000 | +68.6% |
| 38. | South Africa | $7,991,000 | -16.7% |
| 39. | Croatia | $6,646,000 | +76.1% |
| 40. | Oman | $5,647,000 | -37.4% |
| 41. | Israel | $5,576,000 | +14.6% |
| 42. | Thailand | $5,390,000 | +74.5% |
| 43. | Lithuania | $5,357,000 | +37.7% |
| 44. | Jordan | $5,276,000 | +3.9% |
| 45. | Qatar | $5,234,000 | -48.7% |
| 46. | Slovenia | $4,795,000 | +21.7% |
| 47. | Serbia | $2,984,000 | +89.9% |
| 48. | Suriname | $2,976,000 | +10162% |
| 49. | Bahrain | $2,916,000 | -32.6% |
| 50. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $2,618,000 | +19.4% |
| 51. | Nigeria | $2,557,000 | +183.5% |
| 52. | Cyprus | $2,445,000 | +5.4% |
| 53. | Nepal | $2,354,000 | +24.6% |
| 54. | Bangladesh | $2,348,000 | -14.1% |
| 55. | India | $2,103,000 | +57.5% |
| 56. | Pakistan | $1,950,000 | +4.4% |
| 57. | Luxembourg | $1,870,000 | -7.2% |
| 58. | Somalia | $1,836,000 | +98.5% |
| 59. | Mauritius | $1,736,000 | +4.7% |
| 60. | Philippines | $1,727,000 | -18% |
| 61. | Colombia | $1,713,000 | +11.6% |
| 62. | Costa Rica | $1,602,000 | +73.9% |
| 63. | Libya | $1,540,000 | +1.8% |
| 64. | Maldives | $1,486,000 | +54.8% |
| 65. | Algeria | $1,432,000 | -23.5% |
| 66. | Tunisia | $1,367,000 | +4.8% |
| 67. | Botswana | $1,361,000 | +13.9% |
| 68. | Peru | $1,340,000 | +65% |
| 69. | North Macedonia | $1,196,000 | +17.8% |
| 70. | Panama | $1,167,000 | -38.7% |
| 71. | Namibia | $1,076,000 | +5.4% |
| 72. | Latvia | $1,072,000 | +34% |
| 73. | Iceland | $983,000 | +13.4% |
| 74. | Vietnam | $978,000 | +49.1% |
| 75. | Egypt | $956,000 | +50.6% |
| 76. | Montenegro | $896,000 | +62.3% |
| 77. | Russia | $881,000 | +5.1% |
| 78. | Malta | $869,000 | -10.9% |
| 79. | Belarus | $853,000 | -15.5% |
| 80. | Macao | $821,000 | -0.1% |
| 81. | Sri Lanka | $795,000 | +7.7% |
| 82. | Kazakhstan | $785,000 | +28.1% |
| 83. | Yemen | $717,000 | -68.3% |
| 84. | New Zealand | $698,000 | +186.1% |
| 85. | Iraq | $683,000 | -90% |
| 86. | Azerbaijan | $677,000 | +41.3% |
| 87. | Honduras | $666,000 | +52.1% |
| 88. | Barbados | $654,000 | +11.8% |
| 89. | Estonia | $616,000 | -43.6% |
| 90. | Kenya | $600,000 | +15.4% |
| 91. | Lebanon | $460,000 | -49.8% |
| 92. | Bahamas | $396,000 | -44.3% |
| 93. | Turkey | $378,000 | +28.6% |
| 94. | Mongolia | $350,000 | -45% |
| 95. | Papua New Guinea | $327,000 | +59.5% |
| 96. | Uzbekistan | $320,000 | +103.8% |
| 97. | Lesotho | $319,000 | +10% |
| 98. | Eswatini | $280,000 | +6.1% |
| 99. | Brunei Darussalam | $276,000 | -8.3% |
| 100. | Andorra | $273,000 | -38.2% |
Year over year, the fastest increases belong to Suriname (up 10,162% from 2020), Bulgaria (up 284.3%), New Zealand (up 186.1%), Nigeria (up 183.5%) then Uzbekistan (up 103.8%).
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the above table’s columns. An entry of 0% in the right-most column means that no 2020 data was available.
See also Natural Honey Exports by Country, America’s Top Trading Partners, Germany’s Top Trading Partners and Poland’s Top Trading Partners
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on July 13, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 13, 2022
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 13, 2022
Wikipedia, Honey. Accessed on July 13, 2022
