Apiculture Market

Market Overview

The global apiculture market size was valued at USD 8,842.5 million in 2018, growing at a CAGR of 2.8% during the forecast period of 2019–2026.

Apiculture involves the commercial production of honey, beeswax, and other components, which are used in different applications worldwide. Products of apiculture are of great importance and have applications in various industries. The import and export of these products exhibit the nature of their importance. For instance, the EU imports around 6,000 tons of beeswax annually, and approximately 50% of it comes from developing countries. Moreover, Agriculture is one of the major sectors in the U.S. and is highly valuable to the economy. Commercially, beekeeping generates around USD 15 billion–20 billion every year for the agriculture industry through pollination.

Regional Analysis

Global apiculture market by Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa.

North America is dominating the market and accounted for the highest share in the forecast period. This can be attributed to the well-established honey industry. In the U.S., honey industry is well-established. Increasing consumption of bread and cookies and demand for packaged honey as a dietary supplement have added more value to the industry. In 2016, total US honey consumption reached 574.1 million pounds, the USDA organization. Over half of total honey consumption can be attributed to food products containing honey as an ingredient. The demand for honey is growing in the region, owing to the rising number of health-conscious population and growing preference over sugar. In addition, as a strong commercial sector, beekeeping is a thriving industry in other parts of North America as well. Alberta, with over 1,000 beekeepers, is home to around 40% of all Canadian honeybee colonies. It is the largest honey producer in Canada.

Europe is second leading region in the forecast period owing to large production of honey. Europe is the second largest global producer of honey after China, according to the CBI Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, the region is not self-efficient and depends mostly on import from other countries such as China, Germany, the U.K., France, Belgium, and Spain. For instance, according to the European Commission, about 200,000 tons of honey was imported into Europe in 2016, from China, which accounts for about 40% of EU imports. EU produced 209,000 Tons of honey in 2018.

Middle East & Africa is offering various lucrative opportunities for the market. Apiculture in Africa is one of the economically valuable sectors, as it helps in creating sustainable employment in the region. Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania are the largest honey producers in the region and have a high demand from large markets like Nigeria and South Africa. Beeswax and Propolis are some other major products, which are widely used in skin care and cosmetic, shoe, furniture, and candle manufacturing industries. Additionally, Apiculture has great potential in bringing economic development to Africa and help in reducing poverty in the region. In Kenya, it is lucrative and generates a significant income, and approximately 70% of youth and 50% of women are involved in it. Low investment in beekeeping and no requirement of land are the major factors attracting youth to adopt it in a more professional manner.

Segmental Analysis

For a better understanding of the global apiculture market, we have segmented the market by type, and application.

By type, the market is segmented into honey, beeswax, live bees, others. Honey is accounting for the largest share of the market. The growth can be attributed to its high demand as natural sweetener worldwide. Furthermore, honey has been used as traditional medicines, owing to its antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immunity boosting property properties. Because of this antibacterial property of the honey, it is highly used in the pharmaceutical industry. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 2,195 children die every day due to diarrhea, which is further boosting the demand for honey as an antibacterial agent.