Honey Guide

Fraudulent honey is commonplace, with reports from the international beekeeping conference Apimondia stating that nearly one-third of all internationally traded honey are not sourced from bees. Fraudulent honey that is imported or either created in the country of origin by using other ingredients, such as sugar beet or syrup has caused products to be at shockingly low price points, causing beekeepers to struggle in competing in their local markets. This is especially detrimental to markets that endorse organic honey or specialty honey, such as Brazil and New Zealand. 

The import tariffs for the top 5 trading partners range from 16% to 25.50%.

Source: Tridge, ITC Market Access Map

China is the leading global honey producer with around 300K commercial beekeepers. Official data shows that there had been over 35,000 hives of bees in Jingyuan by the end of 2021, with an annual yield of 300,000 kg of honey worth more than 50 million yuan (US$7.5 million).Most beekeepers in the country live itinerant lives moving their migratory honey bees around China looking for nectar.

Most commercial honey undergoes a process of extensive processing. Initially, honey processors heat the sweet substance to 120 degrees, and then up to 165 degrees. Following the heating process, the honey is cooled before bottling.

The supply chain for Chinese honey is susceptible to fraudulent activity, as honey is one of the most faked products globally due to its unique production process. This fraudulent activity includes selling multiflora honey as single source honey at an elevated price, with additional syrups to increase sweetness, and utilising synthetic evaporation methods. 

Europe

Europe is highly dependent on imports for its honey supply, and much like other countries, the hive population is decreasing, while the demand for honey remains high.

• Germany
  

Approximately 80% of Germany’s honey supply is gained through imports, while the remaining 20% is through domestic production, according to the Georgia Farmer’s Association. Bulk honey is the most common form of import, which is then repackaged and reprocessed domestically. Within the market, floral honey is the most prevalent, and the cheapest. With premium honey varieties such as Manuka, prices can go higher, and even more so if the honey is produced locally or organic with fair trade certifications. Consumers are generally willing to pay more for honey if they have these qualifications and if they contain medicinal properties.

In 2020, German imports of honey came mainly from Mexico, Argentina, Ukraine, and New Zealand. Argentina used to be the leading source for imports, but ever since there has been a decline in production, alternative sources, such as Ukraine, became a more attractive option, even more so as the EU has granted Ukraine duty-free quotas for honey imports.

• United Kingdom
  

The UK is one of the top importers of honey in Europe, for which in 2020, New Zealand was listed as its top exporter, with China following. While New Zealand exports a much smaller quantity, it has a larger export value than that of China, indicating the type of honey which is exported from the two countries, where New Zealand honey is on the pricier side, with premium varieties.

• France
  

France has a strong domestic honey system, but due to the inevitable decline in production, like other countries, it has started to lean towards imports. Like Germany, bulk imports are common, with approximately 20-30% of imports going towards industrial uses, consisting of cheaper Chinese honey imports, approximately 20% towards wholesalers which then funneled to specialty shops selling monofloral honey, with approximately 55% of imported honey goes toward large retailers (Carrefour, Auchan, etc.), consisting of packed poly-floral honey.

United States

According to the USDA National Honey Report, natural organic honey, comb honey, natural light amber honey, natural amber/darker honey, natural white honey, and natural extra light honey are imported in the US. Natural organic honey imports are predominantly from the Brazilian market, with Indian, Vietnamese, and Argentinian markets taking up most of natural light amber honey imports.

Rising sourcing destinations for honey are concentrated in the Asian markets, such as Vietnam, India, and Taiwan. These cheaper imports have pushed down global prices of honey significantly, and the competition is expected to become fiercer as these countries rise in prominence. Vietnam competes with the Indian market in terms of its prices to become one of the cheapest honey globally. However, these cheap prices sometimes come at the expense of quality, in which honey is either harvested early or includes artificial enhancements. There have also been records of China using Vietnam and other Asian countries to re-export their products to avoid anti-dumping duties. For consumers, however, this might paint a different picture, as many are looking to get a bargain, and with the global decline in the hive population, pure honey is hard to keep up. 

The top exporter of honey (HS: 040900) is New Zealand (USD 328,641K), taking up a 13.8% share in world exports in 2020. This is followed by China (USD 254,045K) with a 10.7% share, Argentina (USD 170,242K) with 7.1%, Germany (USD 147,666K) with 6.2%, Ukraine (USD 138,787K) with 5.8%, and Spain (USD 112,438K) with 4.7%. While China has shown a slightly decreasing trend since 2015, the proportion of New Zealand in the global honey export market has been increasing gradually since 2016. In 2020, its total export value exceeded the Chinese export value by 10%.  

Source: Tridge

The most popular honey varieties grown in China include Acacia honey, Sidr Honey, and Comb honey. Other varieties include Polyflower Honey, Jujube Honey, Linden Honey, Logan Honey, Eucalyptus Honey, Sunflower Honey, Chaste Tree Honey, Rapeseed, and Buckwheat Honey.

1. Acacia Honey

- Harvested in late spring and early summer.

- The acacia is mainly distributed in the Yellow River and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China, such as Shandong, Henan, Hebei, Anhui, and Shanxi.

- White/light yellow in colour, with a sweet and delicate taste.

- Used as a sweetener, in beverages, and for baking.

- Most exported honey from China.

2. Comb Honey

- Also known as plaid honey.

- Considered the highest grade among the high-grade natural honey products.

- A more expensive variety due to the process of its production, wherein more intensive resources than are utilised compared to regular honey.

3. Seder/Sidr Honey

- Popular for its unique taste and aroma.

Produced in Shaanxi, China, and on the bank of the Yellow River. 

Based on Tridge’s seasonality data, 52% of known varieties and regions are in season in July. This is followed by June with 30% and 26% in May and August. October is the lowest in terms of in-season varieties and regions, with 4%. 

The world’s top producer of honey in China (444.10K MT), taking up 34% of the global share. Following this is Turkey with 8.4% (109.33K MT), Canada with 6.1% (80.35K MT), Argentina (78.93K MT) with 6%, and Iran with 5.8% (75.46K MT). 

Climatic factors could determine how long the honey harvest season lasts. For example, in Brazil, the Orange Blossom honey harvests last as long as the flowers are open. This can change if there is not enough rain, flowers close, and consequently, the harvest closes earlier. 

The industry norm packaging for Chinese Honey is by sachets, plastic boxes, tubes, bottles, glass jars and also iron buckets.

1. Sachets - 10g, 15g, 20g

2. Plastic Boxes - 25kg

3. Tubes - 90g

4. Bottles - 30g-3kg

5. Glass Jars - 30g-3kg

6. Iron Buckets - 454g-1.5kg

Myanmar exports drum packaging honey with a Net Weight: 290-300 KG and Drum Weight: 22 KG.

1. After the honey is packed for export, necessary export customs clearance documents required by China load port customs are prepared.

2. The Invoice, Packing list and other essential export documents for China customs are prepared prior to the movement of the export cargo to the Customs port of China.

3. The export documents are then filed with China customs electronically.

4. The cargo is then moved from the exporters warehouse/location to China export customs location where international carriers are also operated. The export cargo is unloaded at China customs bonded area under custodian of cargo. The handling of export cargo at export port locations is operated by such custodian in China.

5. For the cargo to be moved out of China customs for export, necessary permission has to be given by China customs authorities.

6. Any additional export inspection procedures can be carried out by China customs authorities wherever required.

The main export market for Myanmar honey is Japan, which accounts for 72.48% of the market share, followed by the Thailand, the United States, Singapore, and Malaysia.

According to the Apiculture Division of the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department, Myanmar shipped 926.9 metric tonnes of honey to foreign trade partners in the past four months from April to July in the current financial year 2023-2024.

Myanmar exported 100.41 MT of honey to foreign markets in April, 336.7 MT in May, 80.4 MT in June and 409.4 MT in July respectively.

Myanmar produces approximately 7,000 tonnes of honey per year, with a production capacity of 70 pounds per beehive. Every year, approximately 2,600 tonnes of honey are transported to foreign markets. Myanmar honey costs $1,600 per tonne.

During the fiscal year 2022-2023 (April-March), more than 1,900 tonnes of honey were shipped to external markets, with an estimated value of more than $2.8 million. Myanmar exported 1,853.74 tonnes by sea to foreign markets and 63.44 tonnes by land to neighboring countries.

Moisture content control

Honey absorbs moisture, as a result, honey processing equipment must be completely dry. Honey should also be processed promptly after removal from the hive to prevent it from absorbing moisture from the air, especially in humid climates.

HMF content control (Hydroxymethylfurfural)

This is a break-down product of fructose, formed slowly during honey storage but very quickly when honey is heated. Honey with high HMF content is considered a low-quality product. The amount of HMF present in honey is used as a guide to the age of the honey and/or the amount of heating that has taken place. Some countries set an HMF limit for imported honey. HMF is measured by laboratory tests.

Control of contamination by insects

Honey processing is a sticky operation, and the sugar in honey attracts ants, cockroaches, and flying insects. Careful protection is needed at all stages of processing, including insect screens on doors and windows to prevent contamination by insects.

Export Customs Clearance Documents Required from China

1. Customs Entry document: (specified by China customs) prepared by the exporter.

2. Customs bond: if applicable, for specific goods exporting to China or to claim import benefits from the China government.

3. Legal Undertaking (LUT): if applicable, to claim export benefits from China government or to export specific products

4. Customs declarations wherever applicable

5. Export License

6. GST certificate / VAT certificate/ Tax Identification Number

7. Purchase order or Letter of Credit

8. Commercial Invoice cum packing list

9. Certificate of Origin

10. Insurance Certificate

11. Certificates of Inspection

12. ATA CARNET/Temporary shipment certificate if applicable

13. Certificate of Analysis: The buyer may request the seller to enclose a certificate of analysis about the goods.

14. Certificate of Free Sale if applicable. If goods are not commercially involved, a certificate of sale is attached by the exporter along with goods dispatched.

15. Weight Certificate: Weight certificate issued by an exporter is required at various stages, such as satiability of flight, satiability of vessel, International road safety rules, import or export duty calculation, and claiming export/import benefits from the government.

16. Consular Invoice: Some of the importing countries insist embassy attested documents.

Within the major import markets, such as in Germany for example, imports must firstly abide by the EU standards for product quality, as well as international standards (CODEX) if possible. Traceability of products is important as well but is not always followed through. The UK also complies with the EU standards of honey imports, documentations, and legislation. In France, compliance for honey imports is aligned with the general food and hygiene standards, CODEX, EU organic legislation, national decrees on honey, and any other EU decrees overseeing honey quality. Regulations for importing honey to the US require adhering to the FDA and USDA guidelines. However, even with these regulations, adulterated honey is frequently seen in retail stores, as new techniques are formed to bypass quality tests, and much of the certifications are not as strictly enforced. 

Manuka honey is popular in the United States and is gaining popularity in Asia. In the US, it is marketed by Wholefoods as a non-GMO product. The demand for non-GMO products is growing in the US, so many New Zealand exporters have received non-GMO accreditation. In Asia, Manuka honey is gaining popularity due to its antibacterial properties and it is often marketed as a medicinal food product in this region. In Europe, however, the demand for Manuka honey is not yet high. This is mainly due to strong competition in the European market: there are many different mono-floral honey and honeydew honey varieties in Europe, making it hard for Manuka honey to penetrate the market.    

• Myanmar is home to a high variety of exotic crops, which are the origin of many different types of honey all year round.

• Honey is produced in a traditional way on a small scale, offering a stable source of income for beekeepers in rural areas.

• Myanmar is also mostly free of common diseases that affect bees, so no treatment with antibiotics or other medicines is needed.

• Secluded small-scale production also has advantages. Common bee diseases, such as varroa mites, have not occurred in Myanmar. Therefore, there is no medical treatment of the bees, except for the occasional use of formic and oxalic acids as organic treatments.

• In the Eastern Asia and South East Asia region, Myanmar honey has a good reputation for its good quality and no pesticide or chemical content unlike honey from China, Vietnam, and Thailand which have high sugar content and chemical substance.

• Myanmar honey is able to compete with Ukraine and Australia Honey in the future as premium honey. Furthermore, Myanmar honey is slightly more price-competitive than those of origin.

• Myanmar honey is 100% pure, natural, traceable, fair-traded with antibiotics and pesticide-free practices.

• Myanmar honey has been introduced Good Beekeeping practices since 2016.

• Tag International Development has opened its beekeeping centre in Pindiya with Israeli expertise and trains the local beekeepers.

• The EU Government has sent hundreds of honey samples to a Germany Laboratory since 2018 and it has approved that Myanmar honey has met the international standard and good quality.

• Myanmar is home to a high variety of exotic crops, which are the origin of many different types of honey all year round.

Source: Myanmar Product Profile: Honey, Myanmar – EU Trade Helpdesk

Generally, lighter types of honey command a higher price in the market as it is more difficult to obtain. The Orange blossom honey is one example of a light-colored honey variety. The variety also has the advantage of being resistant to crystallization, which is when honey becomes more solid, lasting approximately 2-4 years before the honey crystallizes compared to Eucalyptus honey which takes 2-3 weeks.