WANA (Jan 25) – Iran continues to rank as the third-largest honey producer globally, with an annual production of 122,000 tons of honey across over 92,000 beekeeping units, according to Mir Mohsen Mousavian, the CEO of Iran’s National Beekeepers’ Union.

 

Global Honey Production and Iran’s Standing

Speaking on the state of the beekeeping industry, Mousavian highlighted that, based on the latest statistics from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global honey production stands at 2.15 million tons annually, produced by over 91 million colonies.

 

While China and Turkey take the top two spots in honey production, Iran maintains its position as the third-largest producer and ranks fourth in terms of the number of colonies.

 

Mousavian revealed that, according to the most recent census conducted in 2024, Iran’s honey production reached 127,700 tons—a 5.63% increase compared to the 121,000 tons produced in 2023.

 

Beyond Honey: Iran’s Beekeeping Industry

Iran’s beekeeping industry also contributes significantly to the production of other bee-related products. Annually, the country produces approximately:

  • 11 tons of royal jelly,
  • 862 tons of pollen,
  • 211 tons of propolis,
  • Over 2,600 tons of beeswax, and
  • 9.6 kilograms of bee venom.

 

Beekeeping Units and Modernization

The census also reported 92,122 beekeeping units across the country, housing 10.8 million bee colonies. Of these, 10.5 million colonies are kept in modern hives, while 300,000 are in traditional hives.

 

Regional Leaders in Honey Production

Mousavian noted that honey production in 2024 exceeded forecasts by 4.7%, with the highest outputs recorded in provinces such as West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan, Fars, Kurdistan, Isfahan, and Mazandaran. Iran’s continued advancements in beekeeping and its diverse range of bee products highlight the sector’s critical role in the country’s agricultural economy.