The government has extended the minimum export price (MEP) for natural honey at $1,400 per tonne until 31 March 2026, a move intended to sustain the competitiveness of Indian honey suppliers in global markets.
Impact on Indian honey exports
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade confirmed the extension in an official notification. The MEP, first reduced from $2,000 to $1,400 in August, will now remain in effect through the end of the 2025–26 financial year. Officials say the lower floor price aims to make Indian shipments more price-competitive while ensuring exporters do not undercut international markets through excessively low bids.
India exported 60,002 tonnes of honey between April and October in the current financial year, valued at $117.97 million. During 2024–25, exports exceeded 100,000 tonnes, bringing in $206.47 million. These figures underline the growing role of honey as an agricultural export and the importance of stable trade rules for producers and traders alike.
Markets, varieties and production centres
Indian honey reaches buyers across the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Exported varieties include rapeseed or mustard honey, eucalyptus, lychee and sunflower honeys, among others. On the production front, Uttar Pradesh accounts for about 17 per cent of national output, followed by West Bengal (16 per cent), Punjab (14 per cent), Bihar (12 per cent) and Rajasthan (9 per cent).
For many smallholders and apiarists, access to orderly export markets provides stronger price signals and steadier incomes. The MEP sets a common floor that helps reduce disruptive price volatility and supports the development of higher-value, quality-certified shipments.
Policy backing and the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission
The policy sits alongside the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM), launched as part of the Sweet Revolution to professionalise apiculture and raise farmers’ incomes. Implemented through the National Bee Board, the scheme was initially approved with a ₹500 crore outlay for 2020–21 to 2022–23 and was extended through 2025–26 with a remaining allocation of ₹370 crore.
The NBHM promotes scientific beekeeping, quality control, and organised production chains. Officials highlight that combining support measures on the domestic side with predictable export rules will help India consolidate its position as a major producer and exporter of natural honey.
What to watch next
Market participants will monitor volumes and price movements through the remainder of the policy period. Exporters and policymakers may review the MEP ahead of its expiry depending on global demand, input costs and the success of initiatives under the NBHM. For now, the extension signals the government’s intent to support the beekeeping sector while balancing competitiveness and market integrity.
Key Takeaways:
- India maintains a minimum export price (MEP) of $1,400 per tonne for natural honey until 31 March 2026 to support export competitiveness.
- The MEP was lowered from $2,000 to $1,400 in August to stimulate shipments; exports stood at 60,002 tonnes (Apr–Oct) valued at $117.97 million.
- Key markets include the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar; major producing states are Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, Bihar and Rajasthan.
- The measure complements the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission under the Sweet Revolution to raise production quality and farmer incomes.
