**3. Honey market worldwide and the potential market for Brazilian honey**

In order to study the potential of Brazilian honey market, it is interesting to evaluate the production/demand of the honey around the world, the characteristic of the business, as well as, the conditions of Brazilian honey, production, and circumstances that can influence in this scenario. It is important to remember that the market is something very flighty and then, problems in one country, which presents high involvement in this business, can directly affect and change all circumstances and perspectives.

In this turn, it has been possible to observe a decrease in honey production in the US in last decades. Beehives in this country decreased from around 6 million in 1947 to 2740 million in 2016. This internal reduction in the production, from 250 million pounds in the early 1990s to approximately 178 million pounds in 2016, increased the demand for honey importation from other countries [12]. Colony collapse disorder (CCD) can be one of the reasons for the decrease in honeybee populations in the USA [13]. Despite the production reduction, honey consumption in the US has increased from approximately 400 million pounds in 2000 to approximately 450 million pounds yearly in last years. To maintain internal honey consumption, importation has increased from near 200 million pounds (in 2000) to 300 million pounds [14].

Argentina honey production was around 21 thousand tons in 1969, 110 thousand tons in 2005, and 80 thousand tons in 2013 [15]. This increase was mainly attributed to the clover plantation, since although the clover was planted to feed the cattle it gave a lot of nectar for honeybees to produce honey. Now it seems that honey production in Argentina was reduced due to the reduction of pasture and increase of soybeans, corn, and wheat plantations [16]. Only 8% of honey produced in Argentina is consumed in the internal market, making this country one of the biggest exporters of honey [17].

Europe produced about 372 thousand tons of honey in 2013, but it used to produce 309 thousand tons of honey in 1993. It is a great increase. But we have to understand better this market, as all of its self‐production honey is consumed in its internal market. Europe is also a big importer country, importing about 305 thousand tons of honey in 2013, but it also exports a lot, in the same year they exported 176 thousand tons of honey [15]. That means that they still consume a lot of imported honey, but they re‐export more than half of what they import with aggregated value. Europe is an important destination of Brazilian honey, especially because organic honey production is a very important point to be considered for these countries when importing honey, besides the absence of OGM pollen.

The China honey production increased from 75 thousand tons in 1969 to 450 thousand tons in 2013, and in this meantime the exportation in this year reached 125 thousand tons. Therefore, the internal consumption was around 325 thousand tons [15]. This data demonstrate non only the high honey production, but also, the high honey consumption for this country. China is the biggest honey exporter (in quantity) in the exporting universe, ahead of Argentina, which is also an important exporter. However, Chinese honey suffered an EU embargo in 2003, because of residue and antibiotic contamination found in honey.

On the other hand, after this Chinese honey embargo, Brazil has increased exportation. As previously mentioned, honey in Brazil is produced by Africanized bees, which are very strong bees, requiring no treatments with antibiotics or medicines. Therefore, Brazil presents the best bees for honey production [17]. In addition, Brazil has a great extension of territory, as well as rich flora and all resources to develop the bees [18] and honey production, without using antibiotics and pesticides, offering consequently a honey without contaminant residues.

**3. Honey market worldwide and the potential market for Brazilian honey**

In order to study the potential of Brazilian honey market, it is interesting to evaluate the production/demand of the honey around the world, the characteristic of the business, as well as, the conditions of Brazilian honey, production, and circumstances that can influence in this scenario. It is important to remember that the market is something very flighty and then, problems in one country, which presents high involvement in this business, can directly affect

In this turn, it has been possible to observe a decrease in honey production in the US in last decades. Beehives in this country decreased from around 6 million in 1947 to 2740 million in 2016. This internal reduction in the production, from 250 million pounds in the early 1990s to approximately 178 million pounds in 2016, increased the demand for honey importation from other countries [12]. Colony collapse disorder (CCD) can be one of the reasons for the decrease in honeybee populations in the USA [13]. Despite the production reduction, honey consumption in the US has increased from approximately 400 million pounds in 2000 to approximately 450 million pounds yearly in last years. To maintain internal honey consumption, importation

Argentina honey production was around 21 thousand tons in 1969, 110 thousand tons in 2005, and 80 thousand tons in 2013 [15]. This increase was mainly attributed to the clover plantation, since although the clover was planted to feed the cattle it gave a lot of nectar for honeybees to produce honey. Now it seems that honey production in Argentina was reduced due to the reduction of pasture and increase of soybeans, corn, and wheat plantations [16]. Only 8% of honey produced in Argentina is consumed in the internal market, making this country one

Europe produced about 372 thousand tons of honey in 2013, but it used to produce 309 thousand tons of honey in 1993. It is a great increase. But we have to understand better this market, as all of its self‐production honey is consumed in its internal market. Europe is also a big importer country, importing about 305 thousand tons of honey in 2013, but it also exports a lot, in the same year they exported 176 thousand tons of honey [15]. That means that they still consume a lot of imported honey, but they re‐export more than half of what they import with aggregated value. Europe is an important destination of Brazilian honey, especially because organic honey production is a very important point to be considered for these coun-

The China honey production increased from 75 thousand tons in 1969 to 450 thousand tons in 2013, and in this meantime the exportation in this year reached 125 thousand tons. Therefore, the internal consumption was around 325 thousand tons [15]. This data demonstrate non only the high honey production, but also, the high honey consumption for this country. China is the biggest honey exporter (in quantity) in the exporting universe, ahead of Argentina, which is also an important exporter. However, Chinese honey suffered an EU embargo in 2003, because

On the other hand, after this Chinese honey embargo, Brazil has increased exportation. As previously mentioned, honey in Brazil is produced by Africanized bees, which are very strong

has increased from near 200 million pounds (in 2000) to 300 million pounds [14].

tries when importing honey, besides the absence of OGM pollen.

of residue and antibiotic contamination found in honey.

and change all circumstances and perspectives.

144 Honey Analysis

of the biggest exporters of honey [17].

Moreover, Brazilian honey production is mostly made in native areas, which also do not requires pesticides. Nevertheless, in 2006 Brazilian honey was banned from EU markets due to a lack of governmental Plan for Residues in honey [19], situation that was normalized in March 2008.

Brazil has the biggest extension of natural forest in the world and tropical weather in most of its area. That is about 300 million hectares of reserves, Indian territories and other protection areas for the biodiversity and rainforest, according to the IBGE. This allows Brazil to have the biggest organic honey potential production in the world [20]. Added to this huge area of natural forest, Brazil presented 6.9 million sq. km of eucalyptus planted area in 2014 [20]. In all areas of Brazil (north, south, southeast, northeast, and central west), eucalyptus can be cultivated. It is well known that eucalyptus plantation is very interesting for producing honey. It can be planted without chemical treatments allowing honey being produced as an organic area, producing also organic certified honey. Summing the area planted only for soybeans, coffee, cotton, orange, and sunflower in 2013 we can achieve an area of 100 thousand hectares (ha) as per IBGE [21]. Added to eucalyptus honey production and the other planted areas, it is important to consider that pollination services are rarely used in Brazil, and then, a large potential for increasing honey production could use this technique. Brazil has about 2.5 million bee colonies. Most of them are involved in honey production. Pollination is rarely used yet [22]. Brazilian honey productivity per hive is about 15 kg/colony/year. Comparing to Argentina with 35 kg/colony/ hive [23], Australia with 118 kg/hive/year in average [24] and China 100 kg/hive/year, Brazilian beekeeping has much to grow [23]. It gives Brazil a possibility to increase honey production by using with techniques. Beekeeping in Brazil is very unprofessional. That is good, for one side, because no medicine, no antibiotic, and no special food is given to bees, maintaining the honey very natural. But productivity is low since it is very unprofessional yet. In the average, Brazil has a production of 30–40 thousand tons of honey yearly, since 2003 (**Figures 1** and **2**).

Brazilian exports have started in 2003 with China's honey embargo in the EU. Average honey exports are between 15 and 20 thousand tons yearly (**Figures 2** and **3**).

From the total honey produced, in 2014, 66% of it was exported. Brazil still has a very strong internal market for honey, however, with the price increase in last years because of intense exportation, internal Brazilian consumer is being suffering and then, the consumption can be reduced to a premium market only, i.e., consumers with a high‐quality life.

Data have shown that honey consumption was 81 grams per capita in Brazil in 2014, an average really low comparing with other countries. Many programs are being conducted to distribute honey to governmental schools for the snack, but in the regular markets as drugstores and supermarkets consume is lower because of high pricing (**Figure 4**).

In conclusion, Brazil has the biggest potential to produce organic honey in approximately 100 square ha and approx. 7 square km of eucalyptus area. The Africanized honey bee, the best bee, is very resistant and using few techniques we can double per hive productivity. We have a potential internal market that can absorb honey production in the case of international market unbalances. So, Brazil has the best potential to produce honey in the world with low risk. And can produce a very good and quality honey with organic certification.

**Figure 1.** Brazilian honey production (tons). Data compiled for ABEMEL with information from: aliceweb.gov.br.

**Figure 2.** Brazilian honey production and exportation. Data compiled for ABEMEL with information from: aliceweb. gov.br.

**Figure 3.** Brazilian honey exportation (tons). Data compiled for ABEMEL with information from: aliceweb.gov.br.

**Figure 4.** Brazilian honey per capita consumption (g)/year. Data compiled for ABEMEL with information from: aliceweb. gov.br.
