Even with a reduction in honey exports in the 1st quarter, Brazil’s scenario is still sweet for 2023

The beekeeping market in Brazil is mostly made up of small beekeepers and half of them produce about 17% of all honey, including for export. While below 1% of the total beekeepers constitute more than 701 hives and produce 9.8% of the honey, a possible scenario as a result of more investment and zeal by the producer.

Brazilians consume very little of the product, while the world average honey consumption is 240 grams per capita per year, in Brazil domestic consumption is one of the lowest in the world: 60 grams.

This represents approximately 15,000 tons of honey, 53% of which is destined for table honey, used to sweeten beverages, fruits or fresh consumption; 35% consumed by the food industry and used as ingredients; and the last 11% consumed by the cosmetics, tobacco and animal feed industries.

Currently, Brazil ranks eleventh in honey production, with around 42,000 tons, behind China in first place and Turkey. Worldwide, 1,850,868 tons are produced per year. One of the factors is the price of the most valued honey, due to the exchange rate and the internal consumption that increased during the pandemic

Brazilian Honey Exports | Jan 2019 to May 2023 | WTMT

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2021 reports by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) confirm that China is the world leader in production, registering 458 thousand tons in 2020, followed by Turkey with 104 thousand tons, Iran with 79 thousand and Argentina with 74 thousand tons. Brazil appears in the eleventh position with 51 thousand tons.

According to Fábio Pizzamiglio, director of Efficienza, a company specializing in foreign trade advice, the country can benefit from increased production. “We have a unique opportunity to expand our production, mainly with a view to the foreign market. In this way, we can break the current exchange barriers, mainly considering the appreciation of the real against the dollar. But it all depends on domestic production and the quantity available for export,” said the executive.

From January to March 2023, around 6,381.1 million tons were sent for export, that is, a reduction of 21.5% compared to Jan/Mar 2022. It was US$ 22.45 million, a variation of -27.1% in the same period. With that, the average price was 3.52 dollars/kg, with a variation of -6.9%. While in the year 2022, honey exports totaled 137.9 million and an equivalent of 36 thousand tons.

The share in total exports made by the country was 0.04%, with honey occupying the 155th place in the export ranking, while in the exports of the agricultural sector, honey had a participation of 0.2%, occupying 13th place in the ranking of exports in the segment in the period. When it comes to destination countries for honey exports, the United States leads, followed by Germany and Canada and the United Kingdom.

“Another important aspect that we have to pay attention to is the expansion of markets. With the expansion of commercial partnerships and the diversification of exports, we can foresee a significant increase in the sale of the product to the foreign market”, points out the executive.

As for Brazilian exporting states, the main ones are Piauí, Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina, Paraná and São Paulo. The main clearance units are the Port of Santos, Itajaí, Fortaleza Customs, Port of Rio de Janeiro, Port of São Francisco do Sul, Port of Paranaguá, Port of Rio Grande and Port of Itaguaí.

The state of Piauí is proving the sweet taste of the results, the honey produced in Piauí is the third largest product in the state’s export basket, surpassed only by soy and corn, and currently represents about 36% of exports. With State government incentives, new prospects are emerging for the beekeeping sector, which in 2023 expects to export 7,000 tons of honey.

In 2022, almost 7 thousand tons of honey were exported to the international market. Exports of the product and its derivatives last year generated more than R$ 100 million for the state economy. “It is important to consider that, if we manage to improve even more the production number, we can reach more markets from honey derivatives, something that is beneficial for our trade balance, mainly considering the added value to the products”, declared the executive.

The North of Minas, for example, has produced honey and green propolis. According to data from the State Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Seapa), beekeeping is part of 580 municipalities in Minas Gerais. There are more than 45 thousand jobs, last year alone more than 7,155 tons of this type of product were produced in Minas Gerais. The estimate is that this number will grow to 7,512 tons in 2022.

The North of the State has stood out because of the production of aroeira honey, which received the registration of Geographical Indication, in the Denomination of Origin species.The northern region produces an average of 450 tons per year. According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the State of Minas has 6,617 beekeepers and more than 150 beekeeping associations. In addition to honey, Minas Gerais also stands out in the production of green propolis exported to the United States.

Source: Sou Agro

To read the original article, visit: https://souagro.net/noticia/2023/07/mesmo-com-reducao-na-exportacao-de-mel-no-1o-trimestre-cenario-do-brasil-ainda-e-doce-para-2023/

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