"This is the proof that Ukrainian honey is able to compete on international markets. The gross annual honey production has made 70,000 and even more tonnes, which lets Ukraine rank first in Europe and third in the world," the press service quoted Deputy Minister for European integration Vladyslava Rutytska.
Rutytska says that among other important products of the hive are bee-glue, pollen, royal jelly, bee venom, which are raw materials for the food and pharmaceutical industries.
In 2014, Ukraine's gross honey production was 66,500 tonnes. Of this amount, 36,300 tonnes of honey was exported, which was 67.6% up on 2013.
The largest importers of Ukrainian-produced honey in 2014 were Germany, which bought 11,500 tonnes, followed by the United States with 7,800 tonnes, Poland with 7,000 tonnes, and Slovakia and France with 1,800 tonnes each. Spain imported 1,600 tonnes of Ukrainian honey.
