Yucatán Honey Prices at 5-Year Low, a Crisis for Beekeepers

Honey producers in Yucatán’s Tizimín region are struggling through one of their most challenging seasons in recent memory. Wholesale prices have dropped to 28 pesos per kilogram (about $1.50 per 2.2 pounds), down from 35 pesos just a month ago.

The price drop has hit small-scale beekeepers particularly hard. Many are choosing to leave honey in their hives rather than harvest it, since the costs of extraction, packaging and transport now exceed potential profits.

“When there’s no flowering, we have to give them sugar or leave part of the honey we harvest, because without it the bees won’t survive,” said Jaisamarai Cuxim Canul, a local beekeeper.

The situation reflects broader challenges facing Mexico’s honey industry. The country ranks as the world’s sixth-largest honey producer and third-largest exporter, with beekeepers in Yucatán particularly vulnerable to market fluctuations.

Storage Costs Mount

Buyers are penalizing stored honey more heavily than fresh product, adding to producer woes. Some beekeepers report having hundreds of kilograms sitting unsold in storage.

The current crisis echoes problems from a year ago when similar price drops affected the region. Daniel Cahum Chan, a beekeeper from Calotmul, noted the familiar pattern.

Producers are now looking beyond October for relief. That’s when the next flowering season typically begins with timber trees and vines. They’re particularly hoping for a strong tajonal flowering, which was notably absent during the recently concluded harvest.

Turning to Value-Added Products

Some beekeepers are adapting by creating honey-based cosmetics and personal care items. These products – including creams, shampoos and soaps – can sell for significantly higher prices than bulk honey.

“The most recommended thing is to use this sweetener by adding value in creams, shampoos, soaps and with family help sell it on social networks because it yields more,” Cahum Chan explained.

The strategy has shown promise for families willing to invest extra labor. Some report their daughters are learning the craft, creating additional income streams while keeping traditional knowledge alive.

Wider Industry Pressures

Yucatán’s honey troubles reflect global market dynamics. European demand remains strong, with the continent importing about 363,000 tonnes annually worth over €1.24 billion ($1.3 billion). However, competition from cheaper sweeteners, particularly from Asia, continues to pressurize prices worldwide.

The global honey market is valued at approximately $9.4 billion and is projected to grow by 5.3% annually through 2030. Yet this growth offers little immediate relief to Yucatán’s small-scale producers, who face current market realities.

Local beekeepers maintain about 13,000 operations across the state, with most managing modest apiaries. The typical producer operates fewer than 30 hives, making them especially vulnerable to price volatility.

Looking Forward

Yucatán honey still has a stellar reputation for quality. The challenge lies in connecting small producers with premium markets willing to pay higher prices for authentic, high-quality products.

The state’s beekeeping tradition stretches back 3,000 years to ancient Maya civilization. The Maya goddess Itzamná was associated with bees, and honey played a crucial role in ceremonies and daily life.

Today’s crisis tests whether traditional producers can adapt modern marketing strategies while maintaining quality standards that have recognized Yucatán honey globally.

For now, many beekeepers are simply waiting. They hope October’s flowering season will bring both abundant nectar flows and better market conditions. Until then, stored honey accumulates in homes and storage facilities across the Tizimín region.

The situation underscores the delicate economics facing Mexico’s 42,000 beekeepers, who maintain 1.9 million hives nationwide and generate roughly 55,900 tonnes of honey annually worth about $100 million in export value.