Cannabis oils exported by all countries totaled US$3.95 billion in 2023. That dollar amount reflects a 36.4% increase for all cannabis oils exporters over the 5-year period starting in 2019 when cannabis oils exports amounted to $2.9 billion.

Year over year, the value of exported cannabis oils fell by -4.7% compared to $4.15 billion during 2022.

Commonly called hash oil, cannabis oil is a concentrated form of the cannabis plant typically consumed by smoking, vaporizing, eating or absorption through the skin. Besides recreation, cannabis is used to help relieve pain, anxiety and nausea among a growing number of other medicinal applications subject to scientific testing. Innovative uses for cannabis oils include beauty and skin care goods, beverages, chocolates and even cannabis dog treats according to TheStreet writer Steve Fiorillo.

Major Exporters of Cannabis Oils

The top 5 exporters of cannabis oils by value are mainland China, India, France, United States of America, and Spain. Collectively, that cohort of main suppliers generated 70.3% of the world’s cannabis oils sales in 2023.

Among continents, suppliers located in Asia sold the highest dollar worth of exported cannabis oils on international markets during 2023 with shipments valued at $2.3 billion or 57.3% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Europe at 30.6% while another 8.5% of worldwide shipments of cannabis oils originated from North America.

Smaller percentages came from providers in Latin America (1.7%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (1.6%), then Oceania (0.5%) led by Australia and New Zealand.

For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix 130219 was used for cannabis oils, extracts and tinctures.

Top Cannabis Oils Exports by Country

Below are the 25 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of cannabis oils during 2023.

1. mainland China: US$1.5 billion (38.5% of exported cannabis oils)
2. India: $438.4 million (11.1%)
3. France: $317.3 million (8.0%)
4. United States: $253.5 million (6.4%)
5. Spain: $246.8 million (6.2%)
6. Germany: $201.0 million (5.1%)
7. Vietnam: $141.8 million (3.6%)
8. Italy: $122.4 million (3.1%)
9. Netherlands: $65.1 million (1.6%)
10. Switzerland: $59.8 million (1.5%)
11. South Korea: $59.6 million (1.5%)
12. Canada: $45.9 million (1.2%)
13. Belgium: $44.6 million (1.1%)
14. Mexico: $34.8 million (0.9%)
15. Ireland: $33.5 million (0.8%)
16. Brazil: $25.9 million (0.7%)
17. Japan: $24.1 million (0.6%)
18. Singapore: $23.8 million (0.6%)
19. Chile: $21.2 million (0.5%)
20. United Kingdom: $20.7 million (0.5%)
21. Slovenia: $15.1 million (0.4%)
22. Madagascar: $14.7 million (0.4%)
23. Morocco: $13.92 million (0.4%)
24. Czech Republic: $13.91 million (0.4%)
25. Australia: $13.7 million (0.3%)

By value, the listed 25 countries shipped 95.5% of cannabis oils exported worldwide in 2023.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing cannabis oils exporters since 2019 were: France (up 1,321%), Vietnam (up 170.5%), Czech Republic (up 91%) and Chile (up 72.9%).

Those countries that posted declines in their exported cannabis oils sales were led by: Madagascar (down -57.7% from 2022), Morocco (down -54.2%), Slovenia (down -19.7%), United Kingdom (down -19%) and the United States of America (down -18.2%).

Countries Reaping Largest Trade Surpluses from Cannabis Oils

The following countries posted the highest positive net exports for cannabis oils during 2023. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the surplus between the value of each country’s exported cannabis oils and its import purchases for that same commodity.

1. mainland China: US$1.4 billion (net export surplus up 61.4% since 2019)
2. India: $381.2 million (up 34.6%)
3. France: $180.4 million (reversing a -$132.9 million deficit)
4. Spain: $115.6 million (up 13.3%)
5. Vietnam: $81.4 million (up 123%)
6. Switzerland: $20.4 million (down -1.3%)
7. Chile: $15 million (up 133.9%)
8. Madagascar: $14.7 million (down -57%)
9. Morocco: $11.1 million (up 58.3%)
10. Mexico: $10.7 million (down -31.9%)
11. Rwanda: $7.8 million (up 28.7%)
12. Kenya: $6.5 million (up 2,136%)
13. Dominican Republic: $5.8 million (down -23.3%)
14. Tanzania: $3.6 million (up 24,040%)
15. Democratic Republic Congo: $2.1 million (down -47.9%)

Mainland China generated the highest surplus in the international trade of cannabis oils. In turn, this positive cashflow confirms China’s strong competitive advantage for this specific product category.

Countries Posting Worst Trade Deficits from Cannabis Oils

The following countries posted the highest negative net exports for cannabis oils during 2023. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the deficit between the value of each country’s imported cannabis oils purchases and its exports for that same commodity.

1. United States: -US$674.7 million (net export deficit up 15.8% since 2019)
2. South Korea: -$185.8 million (up 25.5%)
3. Hong Kong: -$144.5 million (up 181.7%)
4. Japan: -$92.6 million (down -29.1%)
5. Australia: -$80.2 million (up 48.4%)
6. Germany: -$69.9 million (up 971.8%)
7. Canada: -$53.7 million (up 24.2%)
8. Netherlands: -$50.1 million (up 126.1%)
9. Taiwan: -$42.5 million (up 28.4%)
10. Poland: -$42.4 million (up 27%)
11. United Kingdom: -$38.2 million (down -16.4%)
12. Italy: -$31.9 million (up 1221.7%)
13. Thailand: -$31.3 million (up 15%)
14. Malaysia: -$31 million (up 42.1%)
15. Brazil: -$29.3 million (up 115.7%)

The United States of America incurred the highest deficit in the international trade of cannabis oils. In turn, this negative cashflow highlights America’s competitive disadvantage for this specific product category but also signals opportunities for cannabis oils-supplying countries that help satisfy the powerful worldwide demand.

Cannabis-related Companies

Below are emerging companies that represent fast-growing players engaged in the international and domestic trade of cannabis oils and marijuana related products. The city home to the headquarters for each company is shown within parentheses.

• Aphria (Leamington, Ontario, Canada)
• Aurora Cannabis (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
• CannTrust Holdings (Vaughan, Ontario, Canada)
• Canopy Growth Corp (Smith Falls, Ontario, Canada)
• Emerald Health Therapeutics (Victoria, BC, Canada)
• General Cannabis Corp (Denver, Colorado, US)
• GW Pharmaceuticals plc (Cambridge, United Kingdom)
• Hydropothecary Corp (Gatineau, Québec, Canada)
• MedReleaf (Markham, Ontario, Canada)
• NightFood Holdings, Inc (Tarrytown, New York, US)
• Terra Tech Corp (Irvine, California, US)

 

See also Drugs and Medicine Exports by Country, Top Vaccines Exports by Country, Heart Pacemaker Export Sales by Country and Cannabis Oils Imports by Country

Research Sources:
Border Bee, The HS Classification of Cannabis Products. Accessed on October 12, 2024

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on October 12, 2024

Cision, Companies That Stand to Benefit From Record Growth in CBD Market (press release). Accessed on October 12, 2024

Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on October 12, 2024

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on October 12, 2024

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on October 12, 2024

The Motley Fool, The 10 Largest Marijuana Stocks by Sean Williams. Accessed on October 12, 2024

The Street, 5 Cannabis Products on the Rise in 2023 by Steve Fiorillo. Accessed on October 12, 2024

Wikipedia, Hash oil. Accessed on October 12, 2024