Recently, the latest study of the Institute of Horticulture "The State of Beekeeping in 2023" was published, authored by Dr. Piotr Semkiw, from the Department of Beekeeping of this institution. For a dozen or so years, the author has been preparing cyclical reports describing the condition of the sector. With his knowledge and consent, we are publishing the most interesting elements of the study. First, we will discuss the issue that is probably the most significant – honey prices and the profitability of production.
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Honey prices in 2021 and 2023
As the current and previous reports show, over the past two years, average honey prices have only increased in real terms for products offered through direct sales. In this case, in 2023, the average price of a kilogram of honey was approximately PLN 5 (12.2%) higher than two years earlier. In the case of retail sales, the price difference was negligible. On the other hand, which is particularly important for commercial apiaries, the average prices of honey offered in purchases were over PLN 2.50 (11%) lower than two years earlier.
Source: P.Semkiw, The state of beekeeping in Poland in 2023
Source: P.Semkiw, The state of beekeeping in Poland in 2023
Production costs up to 30 percent higher
The scale of the problem is evidenced by the fact that a significant increase in production costs was recorded at the same time. The year 2022 was marked by Russian aggression in Ukraine, and the economic disruptions caused by it influenced, among other things, higher prices of sugar and energy carriers. Ultimately, this caused production costs to increase by an average of 27-29% over the course of two years.
Source: P.Semkiw, The state of beekeeping in Poland in 2023
As the published version of the report is not yet the final version, it does not contain information on average honey harvests. For this reason, it was impossible to estimate the cost of producing one kilogram. According to the study for 2021, then, to cover the costs, a kilogram of honey should cost on average PLN 27.80/kg (amateur beekeeping) and PLN 19.40/kg (professional beekeeping).
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