OMME consultant: the honey market started to move this year after three years

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János Árgyelán explained that the price crisis was caused by honey flowing into the European Union from abroad, mostly from Ukraine, duty-free, in large quantities, which resulted in oversupply. The market is now starting to move, but producers still only receive 900-950 forints for a kilo of barreled mixed flower honey, which is the same as the price 8-10 years ago, while input costs have increased – if only because of inflation – he said. Moreover, traders no longer stock up, they only buy as much honey as they have orders from honey processors, so the previous price-pushing effect has also ceased, and there is currently a supply market – the expert said. János Árgyelán explained that external factors, such as the weather, have also been making the work of beekeepers difficult for years. This year, for example, the drought ruined rapeseed honey production, and due to the unexpected cold and frost, they were unable to harvest acacia east of the Danube, and in Békés County, the acacia honey yield was essentially zero. Sunflowers fulfilled the expectations placed on them, but they also produced less of them. Despite the decrease in quantity, the quality of Hungarian honeys remains excellent – the expert stressed. In addition to the disease caused by the varroa mite, the fact that there was less pollen in the fall due to the drought in 2024 also contributed to the quantitative decrease, the producer bees could not fatten themselves up enough, they could not withstand the 6-month overwintering, and many died after 3-4 months. A 50 percent bee mortality was realized nationwide in the spring – he said.

Today, bees would not be able to survive on their own

Bee repopulation is also the job of beekeepers, whose work is of paramount importance for the survival of the entire agriculture. Due to the difficult situation that has been going on for years, more people are thinking about keeping fewer bee colonies or completely “hanging up their hives” – the expert said. Technological development and mechanization are needed, because auxiliary living labor for beekeeping is either no longer available or is very expensive – he noted. There are approximately 1,200 beekeeping farms in Békés County, with approximately 750 members in six county associations.

The Békés County Göndöcs Benedek Beekeeping Association is organizing the Gyula Honey and Honey Cake Festival for the 16th time this year on December 6th

In parallel, the Excellent Hungarian Honey of the Year competition was announced, to which 373 samples were submitted this year. The main goal of the Gyula Honey Festival continues to be to popularize excellent Hungarian producer honey, to present the beneficial effects of beekeeping and honey, and to recognize the best honeys. In addition, the event offers beekeepers and craftsmen the opportunity to present their products to interested parties – emphasized János Árgyelán, who also acts as the main organizer of the event.

MTI