Demand drives the market

In 2020, the global organic honey market was valued at 698.70 million USD. By 2027, it is expected to be worth almost double that.

Growing at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 8.10%, the organic honey market is expected to be valued at 1205.26 million USD by 2027. This is mainly due to the rise of the ‘conscious consumer’, who increasingly cares about what goes into their bodies, how it is produced and where it comes from. The health benefits of honey are numerous and well known, and as more people become aware of the fall of bee populations, they are choosing natural honey types that are more environmentally and ethically responsible. For beekeepers, this is an opportunity.

Europe is the largest market for organic honey, followed by North America. Both are seeing a rise in the number of private labels and an increase in imported organic honey. Interestingly, China is the fastest growing market, with CAGR of 16.4%.

For the ‘conscious consumer’ however, locally sourced honey is best and honey lovers have been increasingly going directly to the beekeeper or purchasing at farmers markets. But with Covid-19 putting huge constraints on local markets around the world, consumers have moved online. This also means that the space on the supermarket shelf is less of a factor and smaller producers with strong ecommerce channels can be increasingly competitive. You can find out how to strengthen your honey marketing in our related blog articles.

Don't miss the movement

Large honey companies have been moving into the organic market for some time by creating niche brands and offerings, such as organic and raw honeys in different flavours, and varieties with health additives such as pro-biotics.

With more labels and varieties entering the space, beekeepers, wholesalers and producers are looking towards technology to improve production, packaging, logistics and retail experiences. The winners will be the companies who can get the right mix of quality, ethical transparency, and price for the new type of honey consumer.

To learn more about organic honey and how to take your operation ‘Bio’, check out our latest blog post.