Apiculture Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Honey, Beeswax, and Royal Jelly), By Application (Food & Beverage, Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care & Cosmetics, and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The apiculture market size was valued at USD 11.15 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow from USD 11.75 billion in 2024 to USD 18.59 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.90% during the forecast period.

Apiculture, also known as beekeeping, refers to the practice of nurturing and culturing honeybees by using numerous commercial and scientific methods. This farming process involves the cultivation of the genus Apis honeybees to produce a diversified range of bee products, such as honey, bee pollen, and beeswax, among others. Factors such as the growing demand for beekeeping products due to the surging health-conscious trend and rising governmental support are pivotal reasons for the market’s growth. Currently, apiculture is crucial in several industries, including the food and pharmaceutical sectors. In the food processing industry, honey has emerged as one of the most suitable and preferred products in preparing a wide variety of food items. On the other hand, in the pharmaceutical industry, honey and royal jelly are widely used to manufacture dietary supplements or are often accompanied as a supplement with other products.

Due to the well-known properties of bee products (honey, royal jelly), the market experienced impressive growth during the pandemic period. The majority of the population believed that consuming apiculture by-products would help improve the immune system, which, in turn, fueled the sales of such products. According to the ‘United States Department of Agriculture,’ – a government agency stated that the U.S. consumption of honey grew by 8% in the year 2021 compared to 2020. This growth in demand was majorly responsible for the consumer’s association with honey as a superfood, as well as the rising perception of honey as a natural and healthy sweetener.

Apiculture Market Trends

Rising Use of Natural Ingredients in the Cosmetics Industry is the Current Trend

Since ancient times, bee products, such as honey and beeswax, have been recognized as one of the most appreciated and suitable natural products known to humans. Bee products have existed since the earliest civilization and are extensively used globally for culinary, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical purposes. Bee products play a vital role in the food sector, but with the growing concerns for natural ingredient-infused cosmetics, manufacturers are working toward producing bee-product-based skincare items. For instance, in September 2023, Gisou, a Netherlands-based company, released their ‘Honey Infused Hair Repair Serum’ via Sephora retail. This serum can be used by all hair types as it is specifically formulated to address split ends and hair dryness. In addition, in June 2023, the company introduced its ‘Honey-Infused Lip Oil Shimmer Glow,’ which provides essential omega 3, 6, and 9 oils for nourishing the skin. Other advantages, such as reduced dryness and radiant skin, further increase its usage in the cosmetics industry.

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Apiculture Market Growth Factors

Growing Governmental Support Initiative for the Beekeeping Industry Drives Market Potential

The role and importance of this industry is enormously growing in both developed and developing countries, as it provides the most valuable and nutritional products used in most industries. Apart from their health benefits, the rising governmental support to increase the awareness of apiculture by-products also adds to the growth. In today’s era, most consumers are influenced by digital media, which tends to increase the chances of using such products. Thus, governments are taking advantage and are focusing on launching new schemes or campaigns, which can fuel growth in the future. For instance, in April 2023, The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) conducted a workshop on ‘Technological Intervention & Innovations in the Honey/Beekeeping sector’ under the National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM). Events, such as World Bee Day, organized by the United Nations, help increase awareness among private manufacturers, policymakers, and other key stakeholders in adopting pollinator-friendly practices in agriculture and improving the overall agrifood system supply chain. In 2023, the United Nations organized ‘World Bee Day’ to raise awareness in the agribusiness market, and the main theme was “Bee engaged in pollinator-friendly agricultural production”.

Increasing Use of Organic Honey among Consumers Boost the Market’s Momentum

The organic segment has been gaining popularity in the global market for a few years, especially due to the shifts in consumer preferences and augmented purchasing power. Currently, most consumers seek products devoid of chemicals, such as pesticides and other synthetic additives, which increases the demand for organic honey in the market. Compared to traditional honey, organic honey is recognized as a superior alternative, primarily due to its premium-quality standards and high functional properties, making it a preferable choice. However, the demand for organic products is more prominent in developed countries, such as the U.S. and China, however, the rising awareness about honey benefits has influenced developing countries (India and Japan) to pay more attention to their consumption habits.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Augmented Cases of Fake/Adulterated Bee Products Limit their Consumption Rate 

Currently, a significant hurdle experienced by consumers is the growing number of food fraud cases. The adulteration of products is a type of food fraud primarily used to mislead customers in various ways. Substituting pure ingredients with cheap quality ingredients (malt syrup and beet syrup) to increase the volume or mislabeling the product are some of the reasons leading to rising adulteration cases. On the other hand, the import of various bee products is also suspected of being fake after testing, which can impact the market. For instance, in March 2023, around half of the honey imported to the European Union was adulterated with sugar syrups. Moreover, the European Commission’s Anti-Fraud (OLAF) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) stated that approximately 46% of the 320 imported honey samples taken from November 2021 to February 2022 are part of a food fraud. Also, in 2020, most Indian brands were suspected of adulterating honey with sugar syrups, as they failed to clear the standard quality test of honey.  Bees and other pollinators in several regions are declining due to increased use of pesticides in horticulture and floriculture crops and climate change-induced habitat loss globally. The decline in the bee population can severely impact the agricultural produce. For instance, as per data provided by the Government of India, 50 million hectares of agricultural land depend on bees.

Apiculture Market Segmentation Analysis

By Type Analysis

Honey Segment Dominates due to its Health Beneficial Properties

On the basis of type, the market is segmented into beeswax, honey, and royal jelly. The honey segment held the majority of the share in the global market in 2022 and is expected to grow at a higher pace in the next few years. Initially, the role of honey was limited to medicinal purposes, and with the passing years, it has become an essential part of the food and beverage industry. Moreover, the growing consumer demand for replacing artificial sweeteners with natural sweeteners has also necessitated the manufacturers to explore the underlying opportunities in the honey sector. Thus, the trend of consuming honey-based products has significantly grown and is one of the crucial driving factors of the expected consumption of honey in the coming years.

Royal jelly is also an emerging product used mainly in producing dietary supplements and personal care cosmetics. Thus, all such uses are expected to boost the global apiculture market share in the near term.

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By Application Analysis

Food & Beverage Sector is Maintaining its Prominent Position Owing to its Multipurpose Use

On the basis of application, the market is distributed into pharmaceuticals, personal care & cosmetics, food & beverage, and others. The food & beverage segment is leading across the market due to the growing use of bee products in culinary preparations. The most common uses of bee products, such as honey, range from an ingredient to topping or spreads on food items. The addition of honey in any recipe adds a vast range of taste value and increases the product's nutritional value. Moreover, the surging health concerns since the COVID-19 pandemic have been a game-changer for the honey market, as consumers are cautious about their health and wellness. Apart from honey, beeswax is also used in food wrapping, wherein royal jelly can be taken orally due to its functional properties. Thus, regarding the above, the food and beverage sector is expected to grow to a higher extent over the forecast period.

The pharmaceuticals segment is also experiencing strong growth, as compared to other various segments, due to the escalated use of honey and royal jelly in preparing medicines and other supplements.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

The global market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and South America.

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Asia Pacific is the leading market and holds a share of around 35.74% in the global apiculture industry. As compared to other regional countries, China and India, in the Asia Pacific region, are two of the prominent producers and exporters of honey. Moreover, owing to the large honeybee diversity, long beekeeping history, and considerable number of managed honeybee colonies, China is one of the leading countries in the clusters of other regional countries. Also, the import of live bees and insects has led to a massive growth of this industry. The ‘United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database’ showed that Japan imported live bees and insects of approximately USD 5.2 million in 2021. Other factors, such as the increasing disposable income, new launches, and manufacturing expansion, also contribute to regional growth. For instance, in April 2023, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), China launched its first-ever ‘zero carbon elephant-friendly honey’ to conserve the Asian Elephants.

Europe is the second leading market, which witnessed strong growth due to the growing health consciousness and the large existence of key players. In addition, the region’s prominence is majorly attributed to the rising number of commercially raised bees, which boosts honey production. According to the Eurostat, - a government agency, the total number of beehives in the EU reached 8,104,630 in 2020. Apart from this, the importance of beeswax in cosmetic products has also increased, as it is identified as one of the natural emulsifiers, which influences the manufacturers to develop ‘beeswax-infused skincare and beauty products’ for consumers.

North America is expected to witness strong growth in the coming years due to the rising awareness regarding natural products in the food, medicinal, and cosmetic sectors and increasing governmental support, such as the Pollinator Protection Initiative in the U.S., which supports the protection of pollinators, are some of the crucial reasons for the market’s growth.

South America and the Middle East & Africa are growing slowly in the current scenario; however, they are anticipated to grow in the coming years. The increasing demand for organic foods and the surging expansion of giant players are expected to boost the consumption rate in these regions.

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List of Key Companies in Apiculture Market

Market Players are Introducing Novel Products to Captivate Consumer’s Attention

Some of the leading market players in the market include Dabur Ltd., Capilano Honey Ltd., and Koster Keunen LLC, among others. Key players mainly aim to increase their product range by launching novel products and spreading health awareness of apiculture products via digital media. In addition, companies are working in terms of increasing their production capacities, which will later help in driving their overall sales.

List of Key Companies Profiled:

• Capilano Honey Ltd. (Australia)


• Organic Bee Farms (U.S.)


• Dabur Ltd. (India)


• NOW Foods (U.S.)


• Koster Keunen LLC (U.S.)


• Barkman Honey (U.S.)


• Heavenly Organics (U.S.)


• Strahl & Pitsch Inc., (U.S.)


• Miller’s Honey (U.S.)


• Durham’s Bee Farm (U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• August 2023: RAK Honey, a UAE-based premium honey brand, introduced their ‘Samar Honey’ for the first time in the U.K. market. With its indulgent flavor and subtle sweetness, RAK Samar emerged as one-of-a-kind honey, comprising a vast range of essential minerals and vitamins, compared to other honey types.


• March 2023: Bagrry’s India, one of India's biggest breakfast cereal brands, announced the launch of their ‘Bagrry’s Organic Honey’ across the Indian market. This product is sourced directly from organic farms, free from synthetic chemicals/pesticides. It can be purchased from the market or via e-commerce channels, such as Zepto, Blinkit, and others.


• March 2023: Sanctuaire, a U.S.-based lifestyle brand, released its first-ever candle collection, ‘Plage Noire,’ which is composed of beeswax. The company focused on maintaining wellness and wholeness; thus, it manufactured ‘non-toxic candles,’ which positively affect energy and mood.


• December 2022: Apis India, a producer of honey, launched their latest campaign, ‘ShudhAurSaccha,’ to appeal to consumers by spreading awareness regarding honey. This campaign is available across numerous platforms, such as Radio campaigns, TVC, Digital Promotion, and outdoor marketing.


• October 2022: Minute Maid, a brand of Coca-Cola, expanded its portfolio by launching their latest offerings, such as ‘Honey Infused,’ and ‘Vita Punch,’ across the Punjab. These products are launched to supply ‘healthy sustained energy’ to the drinkers and fulfill the daily Vitamin C requirements.

REPORT COVERAGE

The global market research report includes quantitative and qualitative insights into the market. It also offers a detailed analysis of the market sizing and growth rate for all possible market segments. The report presents various key insights: an overview of related markets, competitive landscape, recent industry developments such as mergers & acquisitions, the regulatory scenario in critical countries, and key industry trends.

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Report Scope & Segmentation