With an annual consumption of 35,000 tonnes of bee honey, almost 24,000 tonnes of which are imported, France is the main market for Moldovan honey, shows a market study commissioned by the Moldova Investment Attraction and Export Promotion Organization that was presented to Moldovan beekeepers, IPN reports.
Honey is the only product of animal origin that is exported in consistent quantities to the EU and only the honey meets the EU sanitary requirements for products of animal origin.
According to the study, 52% of the French people purchase honey from hypermarkets and supermarkets, while 48% from beekeepers’ shops. The study authors recommend the beekeepers to design a national brand that will help obtain higher prices and will prevent the mingling of products when these are sold to wholesale buyers. January – March and October – December are the most active months in terms of consumption and the prices in the period are higher.
Almost 80% of the people in France eat honey at breakfast, while over 72% prefer the flower honey. 70% consume it as a remedy for sore throat, 66% – on bread, 60% – instead of sugar, while 45% use it to prepare dishes. Though the customs procedures were simplified and the tariffs for certification were reduced, the number of authorized honey exporters in Moldova is rather small, of only 18, owing to the lack of a constant and uniform quantity, appropriate infrastructure and sector support, to the poor organization between beekeepers and to the regional market context.
In 2014, Moldova exported honey to the value of US$9.5 million, exports growing by up to 60% in 2010-2014 and by almost 200% in 2014. Approximately 30% of the honey exports go to France, while 23% – to Germany.
