This report “Strategies to Boost India’s Honey Exports” analyses India’s rapid emergence as a major global honey producer and exporter, underpinned by strong growth in apiculture, rich floral diversity, and large-scale beekeeping infrastructure. Despite accounting for around 12 percent of global honey exports and ranking among the world’s top exporters, India’s honey trade remains highly concentrated in the United States and dominated by bulk, low‑value shipments, exposing exporters to tariff shocks, market volatility, and declining unit value realization. The study highlights key challenges related to quality compliance, market access barriers, productivity gaps, over‑dependence on mustard honey, fragmented value chains, and limited branding of India’s GI‑tagged and specialty honeys. Drawing on competitiveness analysis, global benchmarking, and extensive stakeholder consultations, the report identifies significant opportunities for market diversification into Europe, East Asia, and the Middle East, alongside expansion into high‑value segments such as organic and GI‑tagged honeys and bee by‑products including beeswax, propolis, and royal jelly. It proposes a phased strategy focused on diversification, value addition, quality assurance, strengthening farmer institutions, and branding to reposition India from a bulk supplier to a trusted global source of premium, traceable honey under the APEDA–ICRIER Knowledge Partnership.
