NSW Department of Primary Industries

Honey and Beeswax

  • GVP $58.0 million est. Up 3.9% year-on-year.
  • NSW honey exports increased 20% to total $13.5 million in 2021-22.
  • United States market represented 58% of NSW exports by value.
Beekeepers have experienced improved seasonal conditions over the last couple of years allowing for continued recovery of floral resources, with improved flowering on native flora and larger areas sown to key crops supporting production. There were 307,000 commercial hives in NSW in July 2022 and an additional 67,000 hives registered by recreational beekeepers. Following the detection of Varroa mite in June 2022, the industry has responded to support eradication efforts with implications for hive management and their movements.

Production

Honey and beeswax production is estimated to be valued at $58.0 million in 2021-22, an increase of 3.9% over the prior year. While production is expected to continue to recover in 2021-22 following the extended drought and bushfire impacts on floral resources and beekeeper infrastructure experienced in the preceding two years, prices to beekeepers for honey have reportedly eased. 132

There were some 307,000 commercial hives in NSW in July 2022, managed by 2,700 registered commercial beekeepers, including interstate beekeepers registered in NSW.

In addition, 20,550 recreational beekeepers were registered in the state, accounting for an additional 67,000 hives. 133 As a share of national production, an estimated 44% of Australia's honeybee hives were based in NSW in 2019. 125

Beekeepers utilise private and public land resources, with NSW honey production estimated to be derived predominantly from private land at 59%, and 41% from public land such as state forests (26% of all land types) and national parks (14% of all land types). 126 Typically, 70% of Australian honey is produced from native flora. 127

Honey prices

Honey production includes a range of different types of honey produced seasonally from a variety of floral resources and representing different prices for beekeepers. Indicative bulk honey prices, which do not fully capture the growth in specialist products, for example Manuka honey, indicate that producer prices had plateaued through the second half of the last decade. 125 More recently, indicative prices for bulk honey have decreased, with industry participants reporting prices to beekeepers in 2022 in the order of $5.70-$5.80/kg. 132

Prices are influenced by a combination of demand and supply from local production and imports, as well export market opportunities for domestic beekeepers. Honey imports include both higher average value honeys from markets such as New Zealand, and larger volumes of lower grade honeys from some Asian and South American countries. 35

Indicative Average Annual Bulk Honey Price ($/kg) 125 132 ag

  • Indicative Average Annual Bulk Honey Price ($/kg)
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Trade

Australian Honey and Beeswax Imports by Volume (tonnes) 35

  • New Zealand
  • China
  • Brazil
  • Thailand
  • Malaysia
  • Argentina
  • Other
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The trade balance in honey and beeswax nationally recorded a surplus of $4.3 million in 2021-22. Exports of honey increased 18% in value terms nationally to $64.4 million in 2021-22 over the previous year. 35 NSW honey exports by value represented 21% of national exports, and were valued $13.5 million in 2021-22, with the USA representing 58% of NSW exports. 35

The United States became the major market in value terms for all Australian honey exports in 2021-22, eclipsing China, with an increase of 96% year-on-year and an annual compound growth rate of 42% over the last 10 years. 35 Within the United States, demand for honey reached a record level in 2021 at the same time as their domestic honey production continued to be impacted by drought. Pollination services for United States almond crops also divert hives from maximising honey production. 134 Other Australian export markets in 2021-22 which experienced significant year-on-year growth in value terms included Canada (109%), Japan (21%), and Indonesia (18%). 35

Imports of honey are an important influence on the national prices with the total value of honey and beeswax imports in 2021-22 increasing 23% over the previous year to $60.1 million, including honey valued at $55.4 million and beeswax imports totalling $4.7 million. New Zealand imports are the major source in value terms, worth $31.8 million in 2021-22. 35 Major sources of imports by volume include China, New Zealand, Brazil and Malaysia collectively representing 85% of imports in 2021-22. China imports represented 44% of total Australian import volumes totalling 4,190 tonnes. 35

Australian Honey & Beeswax Imports by Value 35

  • New Zealand
  • China
  • Brazil
  • Thailand
  • Malaysia
  • Argentina
  • Germany
  • Other
Download data (.XLSX)

Australian Honey & Beeswax Exports by Value 35 aa

  • United States
  • China
  • Canada
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Indonesia
Download data (.XLSX)

Pollination Services

Pollination services are an important source of income for beekeepers with estimated demand for hives peaking in late winter and earlier spring for key crops that have a high dependency on insect pollination and from honeybees. Hive demand estimates range in the order of 120,000 - 180,000 hives in NSW horticultural crops during the peak months of August and September for almond, macadamias, and fruits such as berries and oranges, with berries and various fruits extending demand through to December in some areas. 133

The value of pollination services are not included in GVP estimates since productivity outcomes from increased yields are captured in the gross value of the relevant horticultural and seed crop industries. Nationally, pollination services have been estimated to contribute between $620 million and $1,730 million to agricultural production each year. 136

Bees

Outlook

Two years of above average rainfall have resulted in increased abundance of floral resources in NSW that support honey production such as improved flowering of eucalypts which typically account for 70% of the NSW honey crop 128 and increased areas sown to key crops supporting production. 130 131 Demand for honey remains strong while production challenges in key markets such as the United States as a result of drought may limit supply 134 in the current year.
Of major concern is the recent Varroa mite incursion in NSW which represents a major biosecurity challenge for the industry. 129 The incursion has substantial implications for hive management and the ability of beekeepers to optimise honey production as the eradication program is undertaken, potentially impacting honey production in the near term.

Stronger Primary Industries Strategy

Varroa Response

NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) is continuing efforts in response to the Varroa mite incursion, confirmed as Varroa destructor, found in biosecurity surveillance hives at the Port of Newcastle in June 2022.

Strategic Outcome

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Biosecure Industries and Environment
VARROA
Until this incursion was detected Australia was the only major honey producing country free from Varroa mite. The ongoing response has included swift and far-reaching measures to contain the disease, which is the most serious pest for honey bees worldwide. This included immediately launching an eradication plan which involved setting up biosecurity zones, containing the infected hives and euthanising the bees.

As the response enters the second half of the Department’s 100 day eradication plan there have been significant achievements and positive outcomes achieved, despite the devastating impact upon the industry. Recently the yellow zone (which contains over 3,700 registered beekeepers), is now transitioned into the blue general emergency zone. This means that those that were in a yellow notification emergency zone now fall under blue general biosecurity zone rules, allowing more freedom of movement.

The outcome of DPI’s confidence and clear understanding of the limit of the spread of Varroa mite means for the 3,711 known beekeeping premises in the notification area, they can now apply for a Hive Movement Declaration which will ensure business continuity and support the state’s $23.1b primary industries sector.

In addition, DPI is conducting one of the largest surveillance efforts it has ever undertaken in around 100,000 hives that are moving to pollination events near the Victorian border, on the North Coast and throughout the cropping belt. This work has been undertaken in conjunction with hundreds of people in the honeybee industry and from DPI’s agency partners across NSW and in other jurisdictions. Specific details of the complex inter agency response include:

  • Identification of 97 Infected Premises
  • Euthanising 5,279 hives at 105 sites
  • More than 2,892 calls to the dedicated hotline
  • Processed 758 hive movement permits
  • Completed online biosecurity training for 677 beekeepers
  • Conducted more than 300 media interviews to better inform community of the incursion and subsequent action
  • Reached more than 1 million people with our social media messaging

Ongoing updates about the continuing response can be found at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/varroa.

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au