He explained that honey imported into the European Union (EU) comes at a significantly lower price than local beekeepers can offer. Local producers are often forced to lower their prices in order to market their goods and ensure the flow of assets.
He also added that since autumn 2022, the wholesale price of honey has fallen again and professional beekeepers have experienced difficulties in selling honey abroad.
“For this reason, and also because of the increasing number of small-scale apiaries in the country, there is a tendency that the domestic market is booming with production and is making it increasingly difficult to sell honey,” LBB's spokesman said.
He acknowledged that the current situation of price increases and low purchasing power was also taking a toll on sales because honey is not a commodity of first necessity.
He said that beekeepers in direct trade and in different markets were trying to sell honey for eight to ten euro per kilogram, but in reality, honey is sold at six to seven euro per kilogram.
He considered the possibility that price stagnation was due to the availability of honey collected outside EU at extremely low prices, and called on consumers to read labels carefully.
