Some time ago, some members of Bee-L expressed surprise at the percentage of
US honey that is imported.  I just received 1997 data from the U.S. Dept. of
Agriculture and thought it might be of interest.
 
In 1997 the US imported 163 million pounds of honey and produced 192 million
pounds.  That is 46% import on a raw basis.  However, at the end of 1996
unsold honey held by producers was 47 million pounds and that increased by
47% to 69 million pounds at the end of 1997.  To put US production on the
same basis as imports, one must add unsold inventory at the end of 1996 and
subtract unsold inventory at the end of 1997.  Doing so results in imports
rising to 49% of honey sold to packers during 1997.
 
At 69 million pounds, inventories were "only" 36% of 1997 US production;
high, but perhaps not critically high from a political viewpoint.  What
might be most important is that if inventories were -0-, meaning that US
producers sold 100% of their honey, we would still have to import 94 million
pounds to meet demand.  That is about 30% of total purchases reported by
packers.