How many species of honey-producing bees are there?

There are about 12 species in the genus Apis that produce harvestable honey, however only a few species produce a commericially adequate harvest. Apis mellifera is the largest honey producer and the only of those bee species to be cultivated outside Asia. The other Apis species all remain confined to Asia. The photo above from James C. Nieh of Researchgate, shows the 'out in the open', single-comb nest strategy of Apis dorsata. This works in the tropics, but confines this species to Asia.