Eurostat: Romania was EU’s third largest exporter of honey in 2023
<p>Romania sent 1,700 tonnes of honey to countries outside of the EU in 2023, which makes it the European Union’s third-largest honey exporter after Spain (7,100 tonnes) and Germany (5,500 tonnes), according to recent data from <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20240520-1" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Eurostat</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last year, EU member states imported&nbsp;163,700 tonnes of natural honey from&nbsp;extra-EU countries, worth EUR 359.3 million. At the same time, just 24,900 tonnes were exported by the EU members outside the Union, valued at EUR 146 million, Eurostat said.</p>

<p>Compared with 2013, honey imports from outside the EU increased by 20%, and exports to extra-EU countries rose by 14%.</p>

<p>“In 2023, imports of honey from countries outside of the EU came mainly from China (60,200 tonnes, or 37% of total extra-EU honey imports), followed by Ukraine (45,800 tonnes, 28%), Argentina (20,400 tonnes, 12%), Mexico (10,700 tonnes, 7%) and Cuba (4,700 tonnes, 3%),” reads the Eurostat report.</p>

<p>The United Kingdom was the primary export partner in 2023, receiving the largest share of EU honey exports (4,300 tonnes, or 17% of all extra-EU honey exports). Next were Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the US, and Japan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Germany was the largest importer of honey within the European Union, with 41,000 tonnes imported from countries outside the EU, or 25% of all EU imports. Belgium was second (31,400 tonnes, 19%), ahead of Poland (23,300 tonnes, 14%), Spain (15,700 tonnes, 10%) and France (7,700 tonnes, 5%).</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Spain was the biggest exporter, sending 7,100 tonnes of honey to countries outside the EU, or 29% of all extra-EU honey exports. Germany was next with 5,500 tonnes (22% of all exports), followed by Romania (1,700 tonnes, 7%), Hungary (1,600 tonnes, 6%), and Greece (1,500 tonnes, 6%).</p>

<p>Eurostat published the article on May 20 to mark World Bee Day.</p>

<p><i>irina.marica@romania-insider.com</i></p>

<p><i>(Photo source:&nbsp;</i><em><a href="https://www.dreamstime.com/sf1nks_info">Sf1nks</a>/<a href="https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photos">Dreamstime.com</a>)</em></p>