Honey and Beeswax Production and Export in Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s diverse climatic conditions and floral resources allow the country to sustain between seven and 10 million honey bee colonies, the highest honey bee colony density in Africa and the third highest in the world. Ethiopia is the leading producer of honey and wax in Africa, with figures from 2015 indicating 45,000 metric tons of honey and 5,000 metric tons of wax were produced. On a global scale, Ethiopia is the third-largest producer of beeswax and the tenth-largest honey producer, though estimates suggest that the country could be producing 100% more honey and beeswax per annum with the right investments in commercialization.
Traditional small-scale beekeeping still accounts for more than 90% of the current production of honey and almost all of the beeswax. The adoption of modern hives, which produce three times more than the traditional hives, is nascent but growing across the country.
Currently, only 2-3% of Ethiopia’s honey and 10% of its beeswax make their way to international markets. Both the export and domestic markets for these products are untapped and show remarkable potential.