Floriculture exports from India are expected to see a 20 per cent decline this year “as buyers are holding on to their purse strings due to the slowdown,” S Jafar Naqvi, president of the Indian Flowers and Ornamental Plants Welfare Association (iFlora), has said.Read More »Indian flower exports likely to dip 20%
A strong development in the European flower business is the increasing importance of virtualisation. Virtualisation plays a major role in the reduction of transaction costs. Until a few years ago, the development of virtual flower trade was hampered by the perceived importance of visual appearance to determine product quality. Improvements in the provision of accurate supply information and reliability, however, have made virtualisation a major success.Read More »Virtualisation in the flower trade: remote buying
Three important developments are affecting developing country producers of fresh fruits and vegetables targeting the EU: stricter food safety demands, changing importer roles, and shifting global trade patterns.Read More »Changing trade patterns for fruit and vegetables
Eurostat trade statistics illustrate that the EU is the world’s leading importer of flowers, with imports amounting to € 3.5 billion in 2008. In the period 2004-2008, imports increased significantly at an annual average rate of 1.9% in terms of value. In terms of volume, imports actually decreased by 2.1% on average per year. These opposite developments show that average prices of the imported flowers became higher.Read More »EU cut flower imports – 2008 Eurostat figures
In the international market for cut flowers and foliage, the major tropical flowers (or exotics) are Orchids and Anthuriums. Other important products falling within this product group are Protea’s (originally from South Africa) and of course Heliconias, Alpinia, Gingers, Strelitzias (birds of paradise) and to a lesser extent Calatheas.Read More »International market for tropical flowers and foliage
A water rationing mode currently effected in Naivasha, the bedrock for flower farming, is likely to deny the country the revenue from improved sales ahead of the onset of the peak flower season later this month.
Analysts say the move is adding to the troubles the sector is facing. The industry reported a decline in demand for its products in key markets since the onset of global recession last year, as production drops further with the ongoing drought.
Read More »Some of Kenya’s biggest flower producers scaled down production due to water scarcity
The EU market for fresh fruit and vegetables is declining in volume but growing in value. In much of the eastern European Union consumption is still growing and consumers are shifting from basic fruit and vegetables towards more diverse produce, including exotics. At the same time, the availability there of other food products, such as snacks and fast food, is a source of heated competition for fresh fruit and vegetables. The markets in countries such as Germany, Spain, Italy and France are large but nearly saturated. Only certain market niches and product groups provide opportunities for growth.
Read More »Eastern Europe a growth market for fruit & vegetables
In the 1970s and 1980s, Poland was sometimes called “the Holland of Eastern Europe”, referring to its considerable floricultural production sector. In those times, Dianthus and Gerbera were the main products cultivated. The increasing costs of energy after the fall of communism forced many growers to stop their production in the early 1990s.
Up-to-date statististics on the Polish floricultural sector are scarce. In 2005, the Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture Poland estimated the value of cut flower and pot plant production in Poland at € 501-536 million in 2003. Approximately € 456 million of the production value was ascribed to greenhouse production (cut flowers, pot plants and bulbs). Another € 45-70 million was ascribed to production in open area.
According to the Polish agricultural census of 2002, the greenhouse area for floriculture was 1,417 hectares in 2002. It is estimated that cut flowers account for about 65% of this area. The open area for the production of floricultural products amounted to 3,176 hectares. Around 15% of this area is used for the production of cut flowers. According to an article in Floraculture International, this area is declining. Industry sources, however, indicate that the industry is very much in transition to more effective production and more cooperation. Polish production is particularly strong in spring and in summer.
Recently published trade data (Eurostat) covering the year 2008 shows that The Netherlands remains the leading gateway for flowers from a number of different developing… Read More »The Netherlands as a gateway for flowers from developing countries.
Analysis of recently published Eurostat data (covering trade until 2008) shows that developing countries accounted for a share of 55% in Spanish cut flower imports… Read More »Spain as an upcoming market for flowers from developing countries.