Ukraine becomes 2nd largest honey supplier to EU in 2023 with 45,800 tonnes, or 28% of all EU imports - Eurostat

MOSCOW. May 23 (Interfax) - Ukraine shipped 45,800 tonnes of honey to the European Union market in 2023, which was the second largest result and accounted for 28% of all imports of this product by the EU member states, Ukrainian media reported citing the European Statistical Office (Eurostat).

China became the largest honey supplier in 2023 with 60,200 tonnes and 37% of the market share, while Argentina ranked third with 20,400 tonnes (12%), Mexico fourth with 10,700 tonnes (7%) and Cuba fifth with 4,700 tonnes (3%), the statement said.

Germany was the largest honey importer in 2023, importing 41,000 tonnes of honey from outside the EU, accounting for 25% of all EU imports. Belgium ranked second with 31,400 tonnes (19%), followed by Poland with 23,300 tonnes (14%), Spain with 15,700 tonnes (10%) and France with 7,700 tonnes (5%).

Overall, the EU member states imported 163,700 tonnes of natural honey worth 359.3 million euros from non-EU countries in 2023. At the same time, the EU member states exported 24,900 tonnes worth 146 million euros.

The United Kingdom was the leading purchaser of honey produced in the EU in 2023 with 4,300 tonnes (17% of all non-EU honey exports), followed by Saudi Arabia with 3,500 tonnes (14%), Switzerland with 3,400 tonnes (13%), the United States with 3,300 tonnes (13%) and Japan with 2,500 tonnes (10%).

Spain was the largest exporter with 7,100 tonnes of honey shipped to countries outside the EU, which amounted to 29% of all exports of this product from the EU, followed by Germany with 5,500 tonnes (22% of all exports), Romania with 1,700 tonnes (7%), Hungary with 1,600 tonnes (6%) and Greece with 1,500 tonnes (6%).