BEEKIPING

Beekeeping on a global level

•  Approximately 1.5 million tons of honey are produced.
•  There are 65 million beehives.
•  Average hive yield in kilograms of honey: 22 kg per hive.
•  Average honey production per capita: around 230 grams.

Beekeeping at EU level

• The EU covers 13% of global honey production.
• It has an annual honey production of nearly 200,000 tons.
• The EU imports approximately 220,000 tons annually.
• The EU exports 93,000 tons annually.

Beekeeping in Greece

• Greece ranks as the 3rd largest honey producer in the European Union and the 19th globally.
• Greece has an annual production exceeding 17,000 tons, which accounts for 8.5% of the EU's production.
• Greece imports 2,600 tons and exports 550 tons annually.
• The total honey consumption in the country is estimated at around 1.7 kg per capita.
• There are approximately 20,000 beekeepers in Greece, owning 1.5 million beehives, resulting in an average exploitation size of 77 beehives.
• The average size of beekeeping exploitation is about 270 beehives. The annual labor needs amount to 7.3 hours per beehive.

Honey in the Greek market is available at the following rates:

  60-65 % Pine honey

  5 – 10% fir

10% Thyme

  20 – 25% Flower honey

The Region of Crete is the 2nd largest region in Greece in terms of beehive numbers, based on ELSTAT data for 2019. Central Macedonia Region ranks 1st, and the Region of Central Greece ranks 3rd. In the Region of Crete, there are 241,225 beehives out of a total of 1,686,063 in the country. According to ELSTAT data for 2019, the Central Macedonia Region ranks 1st with 4,671 tons of honey production. Crete ranks 2nd with 3,113 tons of honey production, and the Peloponnese Region ranks 3rd with 2,775 tons.

Crete ranks 1st in beeswax production according to ELSTAT data for 2019, with 211 tons produced. Epirus Region ranks 2nd with 148 tons, and Central Macedonia Region ranks 3rd with 133 tons of beeswax production. Based on ELSTAT data for the 5-year period from 2015 to 2019, honey production in the Region of Crete decreased by less than 1%. Beeswax production in the Region of Crete has increased by 122.11% during the same period. The export of Cretan honey, in tons, from 2006 to 2013, shows an increase approaching 300%. The export value of honey from the Region of Crete for the 8-year period from 2006 to 2013 increased by 25.04%, with the most profitable years being 2011 and 2012.