Scenes from the Old South - Scene 33

A Touch of Sweetness

In 2014, Georgia produced 4,100 metric tons of honey, but only exported 5, generating export revenue of US$ 54,000, with Saudi Arabia accounting for 87% of total exports, followed by China (10%), and the Republic of Korea (1%). While currently negligible, honey exports have the potential to expand in coming years, granted the local beekeepers scale up, increase efficiency, and comply with international certification standards. According to the Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture, up to 1,500 metric tons of honey can be exported to the EU under the DCFTA, which implies a potential $10mn in annual export revenue.