The USDA in its Nov. 20 Honey Industry Analysis report projected that demand for honey in the United States would grow from $2.21 billion in 2025 to approximately $3.21 billion by 2035, rising at a compound annual growth rate of about 3.8%.
Honey appears to be the halo holder of the sweet sector. According to the Sugar and Sweeteners Yearbook Tables report published June 6, 2025, by the US Department of Agriculture, per capita honey consumption in the United States increased from 1.6 lbs in 2023 to a record 2 lbs in 2024 and is expected to continue trending higher.
Meanwhile, consumption of the other sweeteners derived from sugar cane and sugar beet crops has been trending lower. The USDA said this disparity may be due to consumers associating honey as a “superfood” while recent rhetoric, especially from the make America healthy again (MAHA) movement, tends to cast a pall over sugar-based sweeteners. Earlier this year when Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy was promoting the release of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, he “declared a war on added sugar.” Yet honey seems to have been granted immunity from this war-cry declaration.
Honey bee life spans are 50% shorter today than they were 50 years ago
In a 2025 post on X, Kennedy provided a “MAHA Tip of the Day,” saying, “Raw, local honey isn’t just a sweetener, it’s medicine. It supports your immune system, soothes digestion, and delivers antioxidants straight from nature. Ditch the processed junk. A spoonful of honey is the ancient way to fuel and heal.”
However, honey is facing another battle. While popular appeal, political promotion and consumer demand for honey may be trending higher, honey production has been diminishing.
Colony numbers decrease
In the March 13 Honey report, the USDA said the total number of honey-producing colonies in the United States totaled 2.41 million, down 7% from 2024. The average yield of 48 lbs of honey per colony also was about 7% lower from the prior year’s average.
Both North and South Dakota, the two highest honey-producing states, featured significant declines. The average honey-producing colonies in North Dakota were estimated at 460,000 in 2025, down 30,000 colonies, or 6%, from 2024. Colonies in South Dakota were estimated at 205,000 in 2025, down 45,000 colonies, or 18%, from 2024. Yield per colony in North Dakota was estimated at 67 lbs in 2025, a 9% year-over-year reduction; yield per colony in South Dakota was estimated at 40 lbs in 2025, a sharp decrease of 25% compared with the prior year. The USDA said 2025 production in North Dakota was estimated at 30,820,000 lbs, down 15% from 2024, and 2025 output in South Dakota was at 8,200,000 lbs in 2025, down 38% from the year before.
Other large-producing states also featured year-over-year declines in honey production, with California annual output down 17%, Florida output down 12% and Texas production down a staggering 47%.
A year-over-year increase in colonies in Michigan was not enough to prevent production losses for that state. The USDA estimated the average number of Michigan honey colonies in 2025 at 89,000 up 9% from 2024, but yield per colony was down 31%, and overall honey production for the state was about 25% lower in 2025 compared with 2024.
The biggest pest
In a report published in December 2025 by the Michigan State University Extension service, bee colonies can be impacted by parasites, especially the varroa mite, which has been recognized by the USDA as the biggest pest to honeybees worldwide due to their ability to transmit diseases such as deformed wing virus. Also, forage and habitat loss from civic developments and impacts from weather can lead to a lack of adequate nutrition. And exposure to some pesticides can kill honey bees outright or lead to sublethal effects, such as impaired memory and learning, reduced foraging, reduced lifespans, leading to weakened colonies and increased colony mortality.
A few states offered a ray of hope. While colonies in Montana were estimated at 123,000 in 2025, down 13% from 2024, yield per colony was up 20%, contributing to an increase of 4% for the state’s overall production, which was estimated at 10,455,000 lbs, compared with 10,082,000 lbs in 2024. Other states showed a year-over-year increase in production, including Georgia (16%), Idaho (20%), New York (6%), North Carolina (12%) and Pennsylvania (19%).
Meanwhile, expenses for honey producers in 2025 have sharply increased, with the USDA estimating total 2025 expenditures at over $101 million, up about 19% from $85 million in 2024. The largest expense increase was attributed to pest control management, which rose 48% from 2024. Mitigation and treatment expenditures specifically to control varroa increased 34%. Year-over-year feed costs were up 21%. Material costs, however, declined from the prior year, with foundation and hive expenses about 3.6% and 6% lower, respectively.
South Africa has a relatively small but strategically important beekeeping industry. The country produces around 2,000 – 2,500 tons of honey annually, yet consumes nearly double that amount (approximately 4,500 – 5,000 tons). As a result, South Africa is a net importer of honey, with the majority coming from China.Bees play a critical role beyond honey production: they provide pollination services to agriculture, supporting up to 75% of food crops (including macadamias, almonds, blueberries, and many fruits and vegetables). This pollination value is estimated at over R10 – R16 billion annually to the broader economy and supports around 180,000 jobs in related agricultural sectors.Scale of the IndustryFormal/commercial beekeepers: About 400 operators managing roughly 60,000 hives.
Small-scale beekeepers: Over 2,000 registered (with fewer than 200 hives each) plus an estimated 4,000 informal beekeepers.
Total hives: Estimated at 80,000 – 100,000 across the country.
Vineyard area: South Africa has 86,544 hectares of wine grapes (part of the global 7.2 million hectares), but beekeeping is spread across various biomes, with strong activity in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and parts of the Free State and Limpopo.
Main Products and Opportunities
Honey is the primary product, but beekeepers also generate income from beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, and especially pollination services for commercial crops.
There is growing interest in organic and value-added products (e.g., flavoured honey, mead, cosmetics).
Government initiatives such as the National Beekeeping Strategy, Bee Forage Strategy, and efforts to meet EU export standards (residue monitoring and lab accreditation) aim to expand the sector, create rural jobs (especially for women and youth), and boost exports.
Major Challenges
Shortage of forage (nectar and pollen sources) due to land use changes, drought, and loss of natural vegetation.
Hive theft and vandalism — a major problem, with some beekeepers losing up to 30% of hives annually.
Pests and diseases, including the Capensis problem (invasive Cape honeybee), American foulbrood, and varroa mites.
Pesticide misuse by farmers, which kills bees.
Low productivity of traditional hives and limited access to modern equipment/training for small-scale beekeepers.
Market issues: Cheap imported honey undercuts local producers, and many small beekeepers struggle to access formal markets.
Government and Industry Support
The Department of Agriculture (under Minister John Steenhuisen) has prioritised the sector, describing honeybees as “the farmers of the sky”.
Key initiatives include developing a national beekeeping strategy, an American foulbrood response plan, and efforts to enable honey exports to the EU.
Organisations like SABIO (South African Bee Industry Organisation) and Vinpro provide support, training, and advocacy.
Outlook for 2026 and Beyond
Production is expected to grow slowly (around 0.1% per year), but the sector has strong potential if challenges like forage, theft, and market access are addressed. Pollination services remain the biggest economic driver, while honey production offers opportunities for rural entrepreneurship and export growth.
Honey farming in South Africa is more than just producing honey — it is a vital part of agricultural resilience, biodiversity, and rural livelihoods. With the right support, the industry could expand significantly, reduce import dependence, and create thousands of new jobs.Would you like me to expand on how to start beekeeping in South Africa, challenges for beginners, or business opportunities? Just let me know!
