Honey production in India is showing steady growth. Although China remains the world's largest honey producer, India is demonstrating a faster rate of production increase. Meanwhile, Turkey and Iran, which hold third and fourth places in production, are seeing a decline in volumes.
Global demand for honey remains consistently high, with the USA being the largest importer. On the international market, honey from Brazil sells at the highest prices. However, the situation for India is different: despite increased production, Indian honey is not achieving the desired high price on the international market; instead, its cost is decreasing. This trend was noted in a joint report by APEDA and CRISIL.
Nevertheless, India continues to strengthen its position in the global market. Recently, one Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) exported a batch of sesame honey to Dubai with support from APEDA. Furthermore, beekeeping is actively being promoted in the hilly regions to improve the quality and diversity of Indian honey. The goal of these measures is not only to increase production but also to ensure better recognition and price for Indian honey in the world market.
According to APEDA and CRISIL, China produced about 5.30 lakh tons of honey in 2025, with an expected rise to 5.50 lakh tons by 2026. India's production, which was 1.46 lakh tons in 2025, may reach approximately 1.54 lakh tons this year. Notably, in major honey-producing countries such as Turkey and Iran, production has decreased by about 2%, while growth in production and exports in India remains rapid.
According to the APEDA and CRISIL report, Indian honey exports may increase by about 9% this year, while China's export growth is projected at 6%. Despite the growth in production and exports, the picture regarding the price of Indian honey remains unfavorable. In 2025, honey from India was exported at a price of about $2050 per ton, and this price may drop to $1645 per ton this year, indicating a potential price decrease of up to 20%. In comparison, honey from Brazil may remain the most expensive, with a projected increase from $3240 per ton in 2025 to approximately $3390 per ton in 2026.