During 2024, Uruguay's beekeeping sector experienced a mixed picture. On the one hand, the volume of honey produced and exported showed a remarkable recovery, favored by favorable weather conditions. However, export prices were lower than in the previous year, leaving a bittersweet feeling among local beekeepers.
In a global context, exports also declined, although some markets continued to grow.
National honey production (2010-2025)
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Significant reduction in the number of beekeepers in Uruguay
According to the most recent data from the Dirección General de la Granja (DIGEGRA), the number of beekeepers decreased to 2,200 in the 2024-2025 harvest, reflecting a drop of 20% from the previous year. Despite this decline in the number of producers, total honey production increased, reaching 11,719 tons.
The yield per hive improved, although it is still below the historical average. As for exports, 2023 closed with 7,514 tons shipped abroad, a significant drop compared to 2022, but 2024 saw a recovery of 50% in the volume exported compared to the previous year.
Global and local perspectives on a challenging future
Globally, the honey market is at a point of stability with sufficient stocks and a downward trend in prices, especially due to competition from countries such as China and India.
In Uruguay, the outlook for 2024-2025 is positive, with expectations of moderate production growth thanks to more favorable weather conditions. However, global competition and low prices continue to pose a challenge for local producers.
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Exports: The United States is the leading destination country
Uruguayan honey exports, which suffered a notable drop in 2023 compared to 2022, show signs of recovery in 2024, although still far from the levels of previous years. In 2023, Uruguay exported 7,514 tons of honey, down 22.8% from the previous year's volume. Despite the drop in quantity, the average price per ton fell by 30% to USD 2,459, which affected overall revenues, which totaled USD 18.5 million.
The main destination for Uruguayan honey continues to be the United States, which accounted for 85% of exports in 2023, followed by Spain (5%) and Germany (4.9%). This pattern of trade was maintained in 2024, with 91% of the exported volume going to the U.S. market, although with a slight variation in the percentages of the other recipient countries.
During the period from January to October 2024, the recovery was evident. The volume exported amounted to 11,298 tons, an increase of 50% over the same period in 2023. However, the value per ton decreased slightly to USD 2,270, a drop of 7.7% compared to the 2023 average.
Although total revenues for 2024 reached US$25.6 million, the lack of a full recovery in prices remains a concern. Nevertheless, certain markets, such as the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Italy, Israel and Germany, continue to pay higher prices for Uruguayan honey, although their share of the total volume exported remains small.