Program Overview

Background and Long-Term Strategy

Average Australian honey production ranges between 20–30,000 tonnes per year (ABARE 2003). NSW is the largest producer (41%), followed by Victoria (19%), Queensland (15%), South Australia (13%), Western Australia (8%) and Tasmania (4%). The gross value of production is estimated to average around $65 million. Average production per hive was 118 kilograms per hive in 2005.

There are around 9,600 apiarists in Australia operating around 500,000 hives. Over 70% of hives are operated by commercial beekeepers managing more than 200 hives. Most commercial honeybee keepers are regionally based. Domestic honey consumption is likely to remain relatively elastic with other spreads representing a close substitute as retail prices increase. There is currently a strong demand in the horticultural industry for hive pollination services.

International bulk honey prices peaked at $US1,600 per metric tonne in 2003, but fell dramatically in 2005 to $US800 per metric tonne. Key international honey producing countries are China, the US and Argentina. Australia is the 9th largest producer (USDA 2005). China and Brazil exports are estimated to increase.

Australia normally imports a relatively small quantity of honey apart from drought years ($12 million in 2004, $38.3 million in 2003 (DFAT 2005). Australian exports average around 8–9 million kilograms per annum. Prices are highly variable pending on international market conditions.

Future growth of the honeybee industry is dependent on international demand and supply conditions, access to public flora resources and the industry’s ability to cope with pests and diseases.

Varroa mite is an external honeybee parasite that attacks both the adults and the brood and can kill honeybee colonies. The introduction of varroa mite would have a dramatic impact on domestic production and the industry is reliant on R&D to address this and other potential threats from pests and diseases. Several recent research projects have focused on this.

There continues to be strong support for the Program by industry (RIRDC Five-year Planning Workshop 2006) and opportunities for productivity enhancements through improved technology are significant and are a key component of the RIRDC Honeybee Program.

The industry continues to lobby for access to native flora, as without this, commercial beekeeping would not exist.

Key long term strategies

• prepare the industry to manage potential biosecurity risks, especially varroa mite;
• increase profitability by improving hive husbandry and management practices;
• continue honeybee access and research into melliferous resources on public and freehold land;
• improve methods of extracting, storing and transporting honey;
• increase the use of honey in the food industry;
• determine therapeutic values of specific floral species; and
• improve communications between the R&D sector, the honeybee and associated industries.