China’s Bee Product Exports in 2024: Growth, Trends, and Market Analysis

In 2024, China’s bee product exports experienced significant growth, with the total export volume reaching 183,600 tons, a year-on-year increase of 11.71%. The total export value also grew by 5%. This growth was driven by increased demand for natural and organic health products globally, with honey, bee pollen, and beeswax showing notable increases in both volume and value.

Honey Exports

Honey exports were a major contributor to the growth, with 169,600 tons exported, marking an 11.1% increase from the previous year. The export value of honey grew by 4.18%. China exported honey to 61 countries and regions, with the United Kingdom being the largest destination, importing 47,300 tons, a 21.06% increase year-on-year, and the export value to the UK grew by 13.56%. Japan and Belgium were the second and third largest markets, importing 31,700 tons and 24,900 tons respectively. Exports to Japan increased by 10.48% in volume and 5.52% in value, while exports to Belgium increased by 9.61% in volume and 0.53% in value. Spain was the country with the largest growth in honey imports from China, with a 54.14% increase in volume.

Exports by Province

The top three provinces for honey exports were Anhui, Hubei, and Shandong, with export volumes of 51,700 tons, 34,000 tons, and 25,000 tons respectively. Anhui and Shandong saw significant growth of 14.02% and 50.05% respectively, while Hubei experienced a 9.35% decrease. These three provinces accounted for about 65.29% of the total honey exports. Other provinces with significant honey exports included Zhejiang, Liaoning, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Jiangsu.

Royal Jelly Exports

Exports of fresh royal jelly reached 623.8 tons, a 1.8% increase year-on-year, with the export value growing by 0.13%. Japan was the largest importer of fresh royal jelly from China, importing 241.67 tons, which accounted for 38.74% of China’s total fresh royal jelly exports. This represented a 28.36% increase in volume and a 19.79% increase in value. Spain was the second largest importer, with 147.25 tons, although this was a 9.2% decrease in volume and a 13.46% decrease in value. Saudi Arabia was the country with the largest growth in imports of fresh royal jelly from China, with a 128.57% increase in volume.

Exports by Province

Zhejiang was the largest exporter of fresh royal jelly, with 475.35 tons exported, accounting for 76.2% of the total. Beijing and Shanghai were the second and third largest exporters, with 40.14 tons and 32.4 tons respectively. Other provinces with significant exports of fresh royal jelly included Jiangsu, Hubei, Henan, and Sichuan.

Bee Pollen Exports

Bee pollen exports saw a significant increase, with 30,199.99 tons exported, a 20.46% increase year-on-year, and the export value grew by 16.89%. The main export destinations were South Korea and the United States, with exports of 16,312.9 tons and 5,149.9 tons respectively. Exports to South Korea increased by 7.92%, while exports to the US increased by 18.72%. Notably, Belgium imported bee pollen from China for the first time in a decade, with an import volume of 1,075 tons.

Exports by Province

Henan was the largest exporter of bee pollen, with 16,843.6 tons exported, a 47.98% increase year-on-year, accounting for 55.77% of the total. Shandong was the second largest exporter, with 4,238.2 tons, although this was a 31.46% decrease. Zhejiang was the third largest exporter, with 3,506.5 tons, a 2.68% increase. Other provinces with bee pollen exports included Beijing, Sichuan, Liaoning, and Shanghai.

Beeswax Exports

Beeswax exports also saw strong growth, with 96,363.5 tons exported, a 23.6% increase year-on-year, and the export value grew by 19.2%. China exported beeswax to 78 countries, with Germany being the largest importer, importing 20,581 tons, a 64.69% increase. The United States was the second largest importer, with 16,691.4 tons, a 35.7% increase. Other major importers included Algeria, France, the Netherlands, Greece, and Spain.

Exports by Province

Henan was the largest exporter of beeswax, with 71,776.8 tons exported, a 36.62% increase, accounting for 74.49% of the total. Hebei was the second largest exporter, with 9,567 tons, a 63.94% increase. Hubei was the third largest exporter, with 5,148.6 tons, a 58.45% increase. Other provinces with significant beeswax exports included Shanghai, Zhejiang, Sichuan, and Guangdong.

Summary Table

China’s bee product exports in 2024 demonstrated strong growth across various categories and markets, highlighting the increasing global demand for these natural products. The data shows significant increases in both volume and value, with key markets such as the United Kingdom, Japan, and South Korea driving the growth. The leading provinces in bee product exports, including Anhui, Zhejiang, and Henan, played a crucial role in meeting the global demand. This trend underscores the importance of China’s bee product industry in the global market and the potential for further expansion in the coming years.