Myanmar exports over 1,500 MT of honey to Japan in 2023-24 FY

According to the Apiculture Division under the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department, the country exported over 1,500 metric tonnes of honey to Japan in Financial Year 2023-24.
Japan imports honey for 95 per cent of total local consumption annually and it generally amounts to over 45,000 tonnes of honey.
Myanmar produces sesame honey, jujube honey, niger honey, sunflower honey, lychee honey and flower honey. Honey is utilized as a traditional medicine in Myanmar and mainly exported to South Korea, Japan, the United States, Chinese Taipei, Singapore and Thailand.
Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department conducts honey business development and services in 31 townships located in various states and regions including Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory.
In 2023-24 FY, a total of 818 beekeepers of both private and public sectors are operating 209,021 hives which have produced over 4,100 MT of honey, 2,000 MT of which has been exported to Japan, China, Thailand, Korea and Germany.
In Japan, honey is used in varieties of jams, jelly, bread, cake, pizza, ice-cream, foods and beverages, health related products, medicines and cosmetics. They use honey as a substitute for sugar.
Moreover, Japan’s individual honey consumption is 0.37 kilogramme on average. It is also predicted that honey consumption in Japan will be increasing 4.9 per cent during the period from 2023 at 2028 in health related products.
Myanmar ships agricultural produce, animal products, aquatic products, mining products, forestry products and finished industrial products. In 2022-23 FY, Myanmar exported over 1,900 tonnes of honey which generated income US$3 million, according to the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department. — TWA/TMT