U.S. Honey Demand Surges as Domestic Production Hits Historic Low
(NewsNation) — Americans are sweet on honey like never before, but the country’s own beekeepers are struggling to keep up. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that domestic honey production dropped to roughly 116 million pounds in 2025 — a 14% decline from the previous year and the lowest annual total since the government began tracking the figures in 1939.
At the same time, per capita honey consumption hit nearly two pounds in 2025, close to a record, according to the same USDA data. Retail sales surged to $1.6 billion between March 2024 and March 2025, a 10% jump from the prior year, per Circana, which tracks consumer spending.
The gap between supply and appetite is widening. Industry analysts attribute the rising demand partly to a wellness-driven shift away from artificial sweeteners. Social media influencers and nutrition advocates have increasingly promoted honey as a natural alternative, often calling it a “superfood.” Major fast-food chains have also leaned into the trend, adding honey to sauces, dressings, and beverages.
Meanwhile, the nation’s honeybee colonies are under severe stress. An April 2025 USDA survey estimated that more than 1.6 million colonies — over 60% of the total — were lost between June 2024 and January 2025, marking the largest seasonal die-off on record. The culprit? Pesticide-resistant mites that have devastated hives across the country.
The combination of shrinking supply and robust demand is pushing the U.S. to rely more heavily on imported honey. While the USDA has not yet released full import data for 2025, trade experts say imports from countries like Vietnam, India, and Argentina are likely to fill the gap — at higher prices for consumers.
The FDA, meanwhile, said it will “continuously review” chemicals found in food, including potential contaminants in imported honey, as scrutiny over food safety grows.
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