Trade value
African honey trade value amounted to $230 Million between 2015 and 2021, according to the World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS) database. Of this, $35 Million was from intra-Africa trade, while $196 Million was with other continents, predominantly Asia. Fifteen countries that frequently exported honey (>1 ton annually) included Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia. A clear indication that Africa should protect the honey bees.
Price Fluctuation and Patterns
Overall, the price of African honey (per unit kg) fluctuated highly in the international market over the seven-year period, averaging $10/kg. Therefore, the answer to whether one can make money selling honey or whether honey farming is profitable – is Yes. Raising bees for profit is possible based on past trend market research. Natural honey trade between Oman and Tanzania in 2015 recorded the highest price from the continent at $39/kg. This price dropped drastically to $11/kg in 2021 – trade between UAE and Mauritius. The price variation reflects the volatile nature of the market.
The intra-African honey trade contributes to regional economic development, fostering economic ties between African countries and supporting livelihoods in the honey production sector. Honey from Kenya had the best average price from Tanzania at $11.2 per kg in 2021, showcasing the value of intra-Africa trade. However, the average price per kilogram of honey traded within Africa varied significantly, reflecting differences in market dynamics and quality standards among African nations. In addition, the average price of honey traded between African countries was significantly low at $3/kg compared to $15/kg when Africa traded with the rest of the world. In other words, African bee farmers would make more money exporting and selling their honey to other continents.
Price Variation
Price fluctuations are evident from the top prices paid for honey from various African countries. Some countries experienced significant variations in prices within the seven-year period. For instance, Tanzania’s honey prices ranged from $3.2/kg to $39.7/kg. Similarly, Zambia’s prices fluctuated between $6.1/kg and $28.4/kg. These fluctuations may be due to factors such as quality, demand, and supply in different years.
Importing Country Patterns
There are distinct patterns in the importing countries. For example, Mauritius consistently fetched the best prices in the UAE market, emphasizing a strong trade relationship. Senegal consistently found its best market in Cote d’Ivoire, indicating a regional partnership. Kenya’s natural honey received the highest prices from the Somali market, emphasizing the importance of neighboring trade relationships. Understanding these patterns can help African countries strategically target their honey exports.
These insights underscore the complex and dynamic nature of honey trade within Africa and with the rest of the world. Factors such as quality, regional relationships, and global market dynamics play a crucial role in determining honey prices and trade patterns. The graphic shows the highest prices that honey from 15 different African countries fetched in the international market between 2015 and 2021. The data was sourced from the World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS). Below are brief descriptions of the trade between the nations.
| Exporter | Year | Partner | Quantity (Kg) | Price per Kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tanzania | 2015 | Oman | 11492 | $39.7 |
| Zambia | 2015 | China | 1517.5 | $28.4 |
| Ethiopia | 2017 | Israel | 1020 | $22.2 |
| Tanzania | 2018 | Oman | 3819 | $19 |
| Morocco | 2020 | Bahrain | 1780 | $18.7 |
| Zambia | 2016 | China | 9360 | $16.9 |
| Morocco | 2019 | Qatar | 3893 | $15.7 |
| South Africa | 2015 | UAE | 2716 | $14.9 |
| Mauritius | 2016 | UAE | 2162 | $14.7 |
| Morocco | 2018 | Qatar | 6056.8 | $13.3 |
| Morocco | 2016 | Qatar | 1572 | $13 |
| Mauritius | 2015 | UAE | 1704 | $12 |
| Morocco | 2017 | Qatar | 1236.6 | $12 |
| Rwanda | 2017 | Singapore | 4257 | $11.9 |
| South Africa | 2016 | USA | 2116.4 | $11.9 |
| Kenya | 2019 | USA | 2451 | $11.6 |
| Mauritius | 2017 | UAE | 1806 | $11.6 |
| Mauritius | 2021 | UAE | 1030 | $11.6 |
| Kenya | 2021 | Tanzania▴ | 8580 | $11.2 |
| Ethiopia | 2015 | China | 2000 | $11 |
| South Africa | 2021 | USA | 4254.64 | $10.3 |
| Zambia | 2021 | China | 9408 | $10.1 |
| Tanzania | 2020 | UAE | 16630.3 | $10 |
| Zambia | 2018 | China | 11953 | $10 |
| Burkina Faso | 2020 | France | 5662 | $9.7 |
| Ethiopia | 2019 | Japan | 1125 | $9.4 |
| Ethiopia | 2021 | Japan | 2737 | $9.3 |
| Rwanda | 2021 | UAE | 1320 | $9.3 |
| Morocco | 2021 | Netherlands | 1691.55 | $9.2 |
| Rwanda | 2016 | Singapore | 1315 | $9.2 |
| Zambia | 2020 | China | 22164.8 | $8.8 |
| Zambia | 2019 | China | 9178 | $8.7 |
| Madagascar | 2018 | France | 17100 | $8.4 |
| Rwanda | 2018 | Singapore | 6000 | $8 |
| Mauritius | 2018 | Seychelles▴ | 1207 | $7.9 |
| Malawi | 2021 | Mozambique▴ | 1000 | $7.6 |
| Malawi | 2018 | Japan | 1150 | $7.4 |
| South Africa | 2018 | DRC▴ | 4615.66 | $7.2 |
| South Africa | 2019 | Bahrain | 1395.25 | $7.2 |
| Ethiopia | 2020 | Japan | 1000 | $7.1 |
| Kenya | 2020 | Somalia▴ | 60177 | $7.1 |
| South Africa | 2020 | Eswatini▴ | 38333.3 | $7.1 |
| Senegal | 2018 | Cote d’Ivoire▴ | 2520 | $6.8 |
| South Africa | 2017 | Lesotho▴ | 33645.7 | $6.8 |
| Kenya | 2018 | Somalia▴ | 34423 | $6.7 |
| Tanzania | 2017 | Qatar | 1700 | $6.6 |
| Madagascar | 2016 | France | 16024.7 | $6.4 |
| Senegal | 2019 | Cote d’Ivoire▴ | 2534 | $6.2 |
| Senegal | 2020 | Cote d’Ivoire▴ | 1155 | $6.2 |
| Madagascar | 2015 | France | 11103 | $6.1 |
| Zambia | 2017 | Zimbabwe▴ | 23570.5 | $6.1 |
| Burkina Faso | 2021 | France | 2134 | $5.9 |
| Madagascar | 2021 | France | 1304.34 | $5.9 |
| Senegal | 2015 | Cote d’Ivoire▴ | 1904 | $5.6 |
| Rwanda | 2015 | Singapore | 3170 | $5.5 |
| Rwanda | 2019 | Belgium | 2400 | $5.5 |
| Egypt | 2020 | Italy | 6939.19 | $5.3 |
| Senegal | 2016 | Cote d’Ivoire▴ | 2234 | $5.3 |
| Senegal | 2017 | Cote d’Ivoire▴ | 1504 | $5.2 |
| Egypt | 2021 | Maldives | 1112.22 | $5.1 |
| Ethiopia | 2018 | Israel | 1000 | $5.1 |
| Rwanda | 2020 | Singapore | 6000 | $5.1 |
| Egypt | 2018 | Namibia▴ | 1482.6 | $4.8 |
| Kenya | 2015 | Somalia▴ | 4343 | $4.8 |
| Malawi | 2015 | Zimbabwe▴ | 18780 | $4.7 |
| Egypt | 2017 | Ethiopia▴ | 1113.14 | $4.5 |
| Egypt | 2015 | Maldives | 1756.74 | $4.3 |
| Madagascar | 2019 | France | 19020 | $4.3 |
| Egypt | 2016 | Yemen | 1118.54 | $4.2 |
| Egypt | 2019 | Mauritius▴ | 5175.65 | $4.2 |
| Ethiopia | 2016 | France | 20977.5 | $4.2 |
| Malawi | 2017 | Zimbabwe▴ | 5000 | $4 |
| Kenya | 2017 | Rwanda▴ | 1008 | $3.8 |
| Tanzania | 2019 | Netherlands | 1092 | $3.7 |
| Madagascar | 2017 | France | 8914.82 | $3.6 |
| Tanzania | 2016 | UAE | 1010 | $3.5 |
| Tanzania | 2021 | Canada | 57070 | $3.2 |
| Madagascar | 2020 | Belgium | 68196.3 | $2.7 |
| Kenya | 2016 | Somalia▴ | 4102 | $2.6 |
| Morocco | 2015 | India | 46400 | $2.5 |
| Cameroon | 2018 | Nigeria▴ | 12000 | $2.4 |
| Burkina Faso | 2016 | Niger▴ | 1300 | $2.3 |
| Cameroon | 2016 | Germany | 1000 | $2.2 |
| Burkina Faso | 2019 | Niger▴ | 1704 | $1.9 |
| Cameroon | 2015 | Portugal | 33150 | $1.7 |
| Cameroon | 2017 | Nigeria▴ | 16600 | $1.6 |
| Cote d’Ivoire | 2015 | USA | 38403 | $1.5 |
| Cote d’Ivoire | 2019 | USA | 1364 | $1.5 |
| Malawi | 2019 | Eswatini▴ | 1000 | $0.7 |
| Cote d’Ivoire | 2020 | USA | 4880 | $0.6 |
| Cote d’Ivoire | 2016 | Canada | 1000 | $0.5 |
| Senegal | 2021 | France | 1566 | $0.4 |
Tanzania:
Tanzania’s honey trade with Oman recorded the highest price in Africa in both 2015 ($39.7/kg) and 2018 ($19/kg). The price has, however fluctuated over the years, with other nations, including UAE, Qatar, Netherlands, and Canada, paying the highest prices for honey from Tanzania. In this period, countries from Asia provided the best market for Tanzania’s honey.
Zambia:
The Chinese market offered the best market prices for Zambia’s natural honey 6 times in the 7-year period, except in 2017. In 2016, China paid $16.9/kg for honey from Zambia – the highest price in the continent in that year. Over the period, the best market price of Zambia’s honey has fluctuated between $6.1/kg and $28.4/kg.
Ethiopia:
Ethiopia’s honey trade with Israel in 2017 achieved the highest average price at $22.2/kg – the highest in the entire continent in that year. The best price was, however lowest at $4.2/kg in 2016 when trading with France. The Asian market provided the best prices for Ethiopian honey 6 out of 7 times within the period.
Morocco:
Moroccan honey fetched the highest price in the continent in 2019 and 2020, with Qatar and Bahrain paying $15.7/kg and $18.7/kg, respectively. Moroccan honey also seemed to have more value in Asia, especially in Qatar.
South Africa:
In 2015, South African honey recorded the best price in the international market, with the United Arab Emirates paying $15/kg for it. The best price declined up to $6.8/kg in 2017 when trading with Lesotho. Other trading partners that offered the best prices during the period include the USA, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bahrain, and Eswatini.
Mauritius:
Mauritian honey has consistently fetched the best prices in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In 2021, its price in the UAE was $11.6 – the best price in the whole of Africa in that year. Besides UAE, Seychelles offered the best price for the Mauritius honey in 2018 at $7.9/kg.
Rwanda:
The best prices for Rwandese honey ranged between $5.1 and $11.1/kg between 2015 to 2021. In 5 out of 7 times, the best prices for the honey were provided in the Singaporean market. The other two trade partners that offered the best rates in the period were Belgium and the UAE in 2019 and 2021, respectively.
Kenya:
Kenyan honey fetched the best prices within the East African community. The highest price was $11.6/kg recorded in 2019 in the USA market. In addition, Somalia was consistently the best buyer of honey from Kenya, offering the highest price in 4 out of 7 times within the period. The other two African trade partners that offered the best rates in the period were Rwanda and Tanzania in 2017 and 2021, respectively. The lowest best price for Kenyan honey was $2.6/kg in 2016, in Somalia.