honey

" In international terms, China is currently the largest honey producer in the world, with around a 40 per cent slice of the market. China’s honey exports are expected to rise by 14 percent, recovering from a record low in 1997, despite lower production. The total supply and distribution of honey to the China market was in excess of 310,756 tones in 2003, a growth of over 31 per cent from 1997. Chinese exports of honey have decreased in the past three years, but are forecast to rebound. Chinese exports are forecast at 55,000 tons in 1998, a 13 percent increase over 1997. Export prices in June of 1997 were roughly 1,563 dollars per ton, compared with about 1,150 dollars per ton for the first quarter of 1998. China's major honey export markets are Japan (23,015 tons), Germany (19,957 tons) and US (13,994 tons). Belgium, the UK and Spain are also major destination countries. In order to promote the quality of Chinese honey and honey’s health benefits, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) has been developing programs directed at increasing honey quality and domestic consumption."