The global honey market was valued at around 7.7 billion USD in 2018 and is expected to increase to 10.3 billion USD by 2025, at a CAGR of around 4.8% between 2019 and 2025. Honey can be broadly categorized as floral or honeydew honey. Floral honey is obtained from honeybees collecting nectar from flowers whereas honeydew honey is obtained from honeybees collecting sweet substances from the excretions of plant-sucking insects or from the secretions of the plants themselves. Pine honey is one of the main types of honeydew honey and is produced when honeybees collect honeydew from insects that live on the sap or phloem of certain species of pine trees. As consumers around the world become more health-conscious, more people are substituting sugar for honey. The overall demand for honey has been increasing over the years, and pine honey is benefiting from this trend due to its aromatic taste.
Around 90% of the world's pine honey is produced in the Mugla province of Turkey. Part of the Aegean region, Mugla is well-suited for pine honey production because of the suitable climatic conditions, long-distance from industrialized cities, and a large number of pine trees. Most importantly, the ecotype of bees in Mugla province is known for the high reproduction rate and its high rate of honey production.
According to Origin Food, a Turkish pine honey exporter, the total production of honey in Turkey is estimated to be 70K tons annually. Of the total honey production, around 30% or 20K metric tons is pine honey. The company produces around 1.5K metric tons of pine honey annually. The harvest season of pine honey starts in August and continues until December. Around 95% of pine honey produced in Turkey is exported.
Turkey’s main export markets for pine honey are Germany and the USA. Major honey companies such as Breitsamer and Langnese Honey are the main buyers of the Turkish pine honey.
Compared to conventional floral honey, pine honey has a unique aroma and taste. It is less sweet and darker colored than floral honey. Due to pine honey’s low fructose and glucose content, pine honey can be stored for longer durations without crystallization. Because of this, pine honey is widely used in the medicine and food sector as a natural additive. With higher levels of enzymes, amino acids, and minerals compared to floral honey, pine honey also has several health benefits; it is good for respiratory tracks, the digestive system, and even weight-loss.
As pine honey’s health benefits and unique taste drive demand, the quality and authenticity of pine honey are important criteria for export. To ensure quality, Origin Food makes a purchase agreement with beekeepers before the season starts so that the company can closely monitor the production process. Also by signing the purchase agreement before the season starts, the company can secure high-quality products from beekeepers at reasonable prices. The field price of Origin Food’s pine honey ranges from 2.80 to 3.00 EUR per kg.
