Beekeeping in New Zealand - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
Melbourne, Australia
Last Updated: August 2024
ANZSIC A0193NZRevenue
$446.7m
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$XX.Xm
Employees
1,699
Businesses
1,085
Wages
$XX.Xm
Beekeeping in New Zealand industry analysis
The end of the manuka honey gold rush has left New Zealand's beekeepers swimming in a sea of honey. Over the past decade, soaring demand for manuka honey pushed up prices, causing industry participation to surge as new operators sought to earn riches by producing ‘liquid gold’. However, the industry's fortunes have changed in recent years. Rapid expansion led to production outpacing demand growth in 2019-20, causing honey prices and profit margins to dip. The unfavourable trading conditions have led to beekeepers leaving the industry and scaling down production, driving down honey production for the three years through 2022-23 (latest data available). Falling production volumes and clover honey prices have caused industry revenue to decline at an annualised 5.3% over the five years through 2024-25, to $446.7 million. This includes a 3.6% decline anticipated in 2024-25 because of the detection of American foulbrood in Springbank Honey's colonies, which forced the beekeeper to burn its hives in May 2024, exerting downwards pressure on honey production.
Trends and Insights
- Production volumes have plunged over the past few years because of suspected Varroa mite cases. The detection of American foulbrood in Springbank Honey’s beehives has forced the beekeeper to burn its colonies in May 2024, further inhibiting honey production.
- The manuka honey segment is growing thanks to robust overseas demand. Despite an increasingly saturated international market, solid price growth and demand from countries like China have supported this segment's contribution to revenue.
- The Bay of Plenty region is abundant with beekeepers. The region dominates the Kiwifruit and Berry Growing industry, many farmers within which require pollination services.
- Competition in the Beekeeping industry is intense. Beekeepers compete internally on quality and price and externally with honey alternatives like sugar.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 5.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $446.7m in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Plummeting production volumes are constraining industry growth
- Over the past few years, beehive numbers have diminished. An oversupply of honey and falling prices have caused many beekeepers to scale back production or exit the industry altogether, leading to a gradual decline in honey production in the two years through 2021-22 and a slump in 2022-23 (latest data available). Varroa mite has also wreaked havoc on many colonies, driving up loss rates and hurting production volumes.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Beekeepers' performance is set to recover thanks to stabilising honey prices
- Over the coming years, as the industry adjusts to the profitability pressures caused by excessive honey stockpiles, production volumes will continue to restabilise as beekeepers scale back their number of hives.
Biggest companies in the Beekeeping in New Zealand
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue ($m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
Arataki Honey Ltd | 12.6 | |
Kintail Honey Limited | 5.4 | |
Midlands Apiaries Limited | 3.1 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Manuka honey, Other honey and Pollination services. Manuka honey is the largest segment of the Beekeeping in New Zealand.
Trends and Insights
The manuka honey segment has expanded thanks to robust overseas demand and price growth
- Manuka honey is a variety of monofloral honey produced by bees that pollinate manuka trees. It has become increasingly popular thanks to its perceived antibacterial properties.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- There are no industries to display.
Complementors
- Kiwifruit and Berry Growing in New Zealand
- Tea, Coffee and Other Food Manufacturing in New Zealand
- Fishing and Aquaculture in New Zealand
- Apple, Citrus and Other Fruit and Nut Growing in New Zealand
International industries
- Beekeeping in the US
- Beekeeping in Australia
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Industry operators primarily raise bees and collect the honey they produce. Beekeepers also collect and sell beeswax, royal jelly and other bee products, and provide pollination services to agricultural businesses. Companies that purchase raw inputs from beekeepers to produce honey products are excluded from the industry.
What's included in this industry?
Manuka honeyNon-manuka honeyPollination servicesBeeswax, bee pollen, propolis, royal jelly and bee venomCompanies
Arataki Honey LtdKintail Honey LimitedMidlands Apiaries LimitedPurchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
APIARYMONOFLORAL HONEYPROPOLISROYAL JELLYIndustry Code
ANZSIC 0193 - Beekeeping in New Zealand
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Production volumes have plunged over the past few years because of suspected Varroa mite cases. The detection of American foulbrood in Springbank Honey’s beehives has forced ...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
The manuka honey segment is growing thanks to robust overseas demand. Despite an increasingly saturated international market, solid price growth and demand from countries lik...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
- International Trade
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
- Total imports, level and trend
- Total exports, level and trend
- Trade Balance
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
- International trade, including imports by country and exports by country
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
- Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
The Bay of Plenty region is abundant with beekeepers. The region dominates the Kiwifruit and Berry Growing industry, many farmers within which require pollination services.
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Competition in the Beekeeping industry is intense. Beekeepers compete internally on quality and price and externally with honey alternatives like sugar.
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
The Beekeeping industry has no major players. The industry is highly fragmented, with many small beekeepers operating in a particular region.
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of Arataki Honey Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Kintail Honey Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Midlands Apiaries Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Arataki Honey Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Kintail Honey Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Midlands Apiaries Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Beekeeping operations are heavily regulated. Beekeepers must register their apiaries and abide by regulations to ensure their bees are free from pests and diseases.
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Beekeeping profitability has plummeted in recent years. Fierce competition has led to a drop in clover prices and players reducing their production, squeezing profit margins.
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in New Zealand include:
- Statistics New Zealand
- New Zealand Company Register
- Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Beekeeping industry in New Zealand in 2024?
The market size of the Beekeeping industry in New Zealand is $446.7m in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Beekeeping in New Zealand industry in 2024?
There are 1,085 businesses in the Beekeeping industry in New Zealand, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Beekeeping industry in New Zealand grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Beekeeping industry in New Zealand has been declining at a CAGR of 5.3 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Beekeeping industry in New Zealand over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Beekeeping industry in New Zealand is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Beekeeping market in New Zealand?
The biggest companies operating in the Beekeeping market in New Zealand are Arataki Honey Ltd, Kintail Honey Limited and Midlands Apiaries Limited
What does the Beekeeping in New Zealand include?
Manuka honey and Non-manuka honey are part of the Beekeeping industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Beekeeping in New Zealand?
The company holding the most market share in New Zealand is Arataki Honey Ltd.
How competitive is the Beekeeping industry in New Zealand?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Beekeeping industry in New Zealand.
