Flowers

Cut Flowers and Ornamental Plants

Issue No.9 September

2007

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Market News Service: Organic Products report Report prepared by Mr. Jan Plasmeijer and Mr. Chumi Yanai

Issue M9, of 11 October 2007 The Market News Service (MNS) Organic Products Bi-Monthly Report presents informative notes and statistical analysis on selected Organic Products traded in major European and international markets. First, the report is divided into a market trend section with qualitative information and market trends for both Cut Flowers and Plants traded in major international European markets. Second, the report offers information and analysis for a selected number of countries within the world floriculture market and reviews of published articles about the industry. Third, it presents major international floriculture events, exhibitions and conferences. Finally it provides, when available, selected price and quantity trend information for major auction houses and wholesalers in major European and Asian floriculture markets. MNS information providers for floriculture products include major importers, wholesalers, auctions and organizations in 11 European countries and 2 Asian countries. Market information is collected throughout the year and is available for transmission to subscribers on a monthly basis. The MNS Statistical Information section, available through the P-Map portal www.p-maps.org, provides quotations that refer to major flower auctions` quantities and average weekly prices from the Netherlands and Japan, and wholesale market indicative prices from Singapore. European prices are quoted in Euro. Asian prices are quoted in local currencies and in US$. Unless otherwise mentioned, prices are quoted per stem and are related to size in cm. We welcome new sources of information, news that subscribers and readers might have on their specific products or areas, inquiries or information requests on the products and markets covered by the report as well as suggestions, remarks and indications on the report content. For these purposes or for other information about the report and the Market News Service,

please contact [email protected]. The authors can be contacted at [email protected] or [email protected]

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Index

MARKET TRENDS ..................................................................... 1

Cut Flowers Market in Europe..................................................... 1

Plants Market in Europe............................................................ 7

SELECTED FLORICULTURE WORLD INFO ........................................10 Members Approve Merger of Floraholland and Aalsmeer Auction ..........10 UK: Manchester Flower Centre to Boom.......................................11 Vietnams Flower Exports to China Rise 20%..................................11 India: Domestic Market Hits Flower Exports, Likely to Miss 2010 Target..11 Sub Saharan East Africa: Flowers Among Region's Trade Strengths ........13 Rwanda: Dutch Fund Training Flower Farmers ...............................14 Uganda: Flowers Sector for Shake Up..........................................14 Ethiopia: Countrys Flower Sector Outgrows Kenya..........................15 Ethiopia: Flower Exporters Strengthen Ties to Japan .......................16 Kenya: Horticultural Bodies Prepares for Merger.............................17 Kenyan Flowers Head for Comesa ..............................................18

EVENTS CALENDAR .................................................................19

STATISTICAL INFORMATION.......................................................20 Quarterly Price Statistic, European Markets ..................................20

Market News Service Cut Flowers and Ornamental Plants

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Market Trends Cut Flowers Market in Europe

Netherlands Flowers Auctions Note The auctions turnover figures of the month of August were published by the VBN (Organisation of all auctions in the Netherlands) as following: A turnover decrease of -4.5%, compared to August 2007 was obtained. The supplied quantities were +2.5% higher, while prices were 2 cents lower this year. Per product (out of the top 10) prices were lower for chrysanthemum, gerbera, anthurium, alstromeria and freesia. Hardly any product with higher prices, but steady was the situation of roses, lilies, zantedeschia and eustoma. During the first two weeks of September the cut flower market was even better than during the month of August, which was a rather good month already. Especially during the second week prices went up further than during the first week. This was in contradiction with last year, when the prices went down during the comparable week. Most probably the reason was the supply situation. Did quantities increase rapidly last year as from the beginning of the month, this year they remained on a

relatively low level. The major given reasons were that the domestic production was lower, in particular of indoors-cultivated roses and outdoors cultivated summer flowers. The summer started early this year; but also early terminated. Import quantities were still not on the full level to compensate that, most probably, temporary shortage. Prices of the mentioned products were all considerably higher, while for other products they were lower. Products like: chrysanthemums, mini gerberas and lilies were cheaper. The outdoors cultivated lilys supply was quite big, especially of the oriental types, with some effect on the prices of course. During the third week of the month the prices remained the same high as during the first two weeks. However, throughout the last week of the month prices were decreasing considerably, especially of roses, which became really plentiful again, in particular from imports. Rose prices in September 2007 were all the time higher when compare to September 2006. However throughout the last week of the month, as said, they become lower again. All in all the September results are going to be a very good and much better than last year, both for the auctions as for the growers.

Exporters and Importers Note The August 2007 cut flower export figures were published by HBAG (the exporters organisation) as following: The total export increase, in value, to all countries together was 1%. Per country, however, some differences could be noticed. Positive export results for: United Kingdom (+ 9%), France (+ 1%), Belgium (+ 7%), Denmark (+ 4%) and other countries (+ 9%). Negative export results were obtained to: Germany (- 5%), Italy (- 15%), Russia (- 10%), USA (- 12%) and Austria (- 14%). The good cut flower market situation of August was further continuing positively during the first three weeks of September. Prices went up even higher, especially for roses, for all the range of so-called summer flowers, such as hypericum, solidago, helianthus, limonium, statice, liatris, trachelium, and also

of carnations, big headed gerberas, gypsophila and lilies. Very good demand and prices for the niche products: molucella, sandersonia, eryngium and clematis. Products of which prices did stay behind were: chrysanthemums, asters, mini gerberas and, alstromeria. Total supplied quantities of all cut flowers were not particularly big. To the contrary they were considerably smaller than last year during the same period, especially of roses and the summer flowers. The change of the seasons in Europe from summer into autumn was going together with the change of the supplied assortment. The summer flowers were disappearing and the autumn and winter flowers arriving in the market. The same has happened with the imports from the Southern hemisphere countries South Africa and Australia, but than the other way round. The


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assortment changed from winter into spring/summer products like: proteas, leucospermum cordifolium, cape greens, other wild flowers, many other greens, wax flowers and anigozanthus. Gradually the imported quantities were increasing every other day until the end of the month. Prices were in nearly all cases satisfactory. However, the price change took place throughout the fourth

week of the month. Suddenly prices really dropped down for roses in particular. When compared to last year, when prices dropped down during the second week of the September, all has been much better in September 2007. Auctions and growers were very satisfied and also traders were not complaining at all.

Austria All people and consumers have come back from their summer holidays. However during the first two weeks of September the cut flower market did not really improve very much, for sure not at the demand side of the market. On the other and prices, especially for most types of flowers originating from the Netherlands were very high; in particular roses and so-called summer flowers. Like during the month of

August, the market was very good and positive for carnations and spray carnations. The supplies and quantities originating from Colombia have normalised. Throughout the second half of the month the market did not improve at all. To the contrary all further deteriorated, even for carnations and cut foliage. During this season of the year lots of non-traditional and alternative greens are available and used instead of the traditional assortment of cut foliage.

France The first week of September was still a very slow and quiet week in the cut flower branch. Most of the people/consumers were just about to return from their summer holidays. However as from the second week of the month onwards the market really improved considerably, especially for products like roses and gypsophila, but also for the so-called autumn products such as proteas and leucospermum cordifolium, which were arriving in the market in increasing quantities. The latter product was very expensive, while proteas were not super expensive, but neither they could be called

cheap. In the cut foliage sector enough quantities of leather leaves and salal were available again. Salal, which was lately transported by air, is now again coming by marine containers; this had a positive effect on the prices. Leather leaves were reasonably plentiful, while purchase prices have slightly decreased. In general enough quantities of nearly all cut flower and foliage products were available, except of Ecuadorian roses and gypsophila. These quantities could be bigger. All in all the September cut flower market could be called reasonably normal, when compared to the same period of previous years.

GermanyThe cut flower market during the first two weeks of September were as positive as during all the month of August, and also as expected and planned before. Nearly all people/consumers, traders and florists were back from their summer holidays and therefore more quantities of nearly all products could be imported and sold. Prices for nearly all products originating from the Netherlands were rather high, especially for roses, carnations and the whole so-called summer flowers, such as: hypericum, helianthus, solidago, statice, limonium, liatris and others. Rose quantities from

Ecuador as also from African production countries have become more plentiful. However the African rose quantities were still not on the 100% level. The directly imported roses from overseas countries were very competitive to the Dutch roses. That is always the case when price in the Netherlands are so high. Colombian carnations were again enough plentiful, but there was still some shortage of spray carnations. The typical autumn products proteas and leucospermum cordifolium have arrived in the market in increased quantities. Also demand and sales have improved. Demand for the so-called cape greens was still rather low. In the cut foliage sector


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everything has, more or less, normalised. Salal is coming in sea containers again, while it was transported by air during the past weeks/months. Some shortage of Costa Rican leather leaves was noticed, except of the medium sizes. Purchase prices were considerably higher (20-25%) when compared to the same period of last year. The market was still quite slow for the exotic products, like dendrobium orchids, heliconias and ginger lilies. The first test shipments of

Turkish carnations have arrived to the market. The general quality level was still summer like, with thin stems and small heads. There was already some demand, but only for lower prices. The market for cut flowers did slow down considerably during the last week of the month and so did the prices of lots of the products, but strongest for roses, mini gerberas and salal. Suddenly demand and sales of the exotic flowers became much better.

Italy After the long hot summer, when most of the potential consumers were on holidays, the cut flower market was improving again. Nevertheless, in September normally no fireworks in the business can be expected. So it was this year too. Gradually, but slowly everything was picking up. Enough products and quantities were available, from domestic production and from imports, from the Netherlands as from other overseas production

and exporting countries. Reasonable quantities of Ecuadorian roses and gypsophila, dendrobium orchids from Thailand, small and sweetheart roses and solidago from Kenya, and very small quantities of other products from several other countries. For sure the market will recover and improve throughout the coming month, when the All Saints and all Souls Day (1 and 2 November), festivities will start.

Norway The autumn has arrived and with the change of the seasons, the supplied and demanded assortment has changed as well. The major business was done with the typical autumn products like erica, calluna and chrysanthemums potted plants. These, for sure, took part of of the cut flowers and flowering houseplants market. However, that was nothing really different when compared to previous years. At the beginning, erica and calluna plants were still rather expensive. However, throughout the month prices decreased quite considerably. As traders report, it has become a voluminous trade for

marginal profits; but florists and consumers really demand and like the products during this part of the year. In the cut flower sector traders and florists trid to make special promotion with mixed bouquets and with small bouquets of mono bunches of gladiolus and mini gerberas . Throughout the second half of the month the cut flower market was very slow and quiet, mainly due to the very bad weather in big parts of the country. On the other hand flowers originating from the Netherlands were rather expensive all the time.

Spain Summer is over, and all traders, florists and consumers are back from their summer holidays. Yet, during the first two weeks of September the cut flower market was still rather slow and quiet. On the supply side of the market the situation was good and quantities were plentifully available; also Colombian carnations, which were scarce during July and August. Still demand and sales of carnations, even though prices were relatively high, were positive and satisfactory. The same could be said for leather leaves and other traditional cut

foliage types, while demand for other products was nothing really special. Prices for cut flowers originating from the Netherlands were not particularly high, but they were neither low at all. During the second half of the month the market in general did stay steady and normal for the time of the year. Slightly more products were imported from different origins. For instance: asters, eustoma, aralea, cocculus and gerberas from Israel. On the other hand cymbidium orchids from the Netherlands were available again and therefore the New Zealand ones were not used anymore. Dendrobium orchids originating from


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Thailand had become cheaper now. To the contrary carnations from Colombia and roses from Ecuador and Colombia have become more expensive. For the time being, the

market is in the atmosphere of the approaching All Saints Day at the beginning of November. This is the most important cut flower event of the year in Spain.

Sweden During the first week of September the cut flower market was rather slow and quiet. It was the period of the year that people with children have to spend money for new school material and therefore there is less money left for buying cut flowers and plants. However, throughout the second week of the month the market gradually improved and consumers started buying floricultural products again. Colombian carnations, both the single headed and the sprays were plentifully available, after a long period of shortage. On the other hand still quite some shortages of shorter small and sweetheart roses originating from the African production countries were noticed,

due to the bad weather in the regions especially in Kenya and Ethiopia. This shortage had, however quite some effect on the price, which became higher. Also from the Netherlands roses were not particularly plentiful and prices were rather high as well. During the last two weeks of the month the market was again moderate, anyhow normal for the period of the year. Roses, originating from both the Netherlands and from the African countries became slightly less expensive. Also prices for most of the other products from the Netherlands slightly decreased too, down to normal levels for the time of the year.

Switzerland As during the last two weeks of August the September market was continuously steady and positive. As traders reported, the weather was not particularly very nice, but that is always good for cut flower demand and sales, because people stay indoors, and then they more easily decide to buy flowers. On the supply side of the market the situation has clearly improved. Much bigger quantities, especially roses from Africa and from Ecuador, have arrived in the market throughout the entire month; unlike the shortage during the end of the August. Some minor quality problems showed up in some shipments of Ethiopian roses, but towards the end of the month all has improved again. As said, sales went very good and

smoothly, mainly due to the fact that the rose prices in the Netherlands were so high. It was a situation that directly imported flowers could be sold more easily, just because of less competition from the Dutch roses. Due to the autumn time and weather the market started to be more and more interested in the typical and seasonal South African and Australian assortment, with proteas, leucospermum cordifolium, cape greens, wax flowers and many other types of so-called wild flowers and cut foliage. Remarkable was also the very good demand and sales (during the second and third weeks of the month) of the tropical product heliconia. Why suddenly? It was not really known, but it was very welcomed of course.

United Kingdom The summer holiday was over, the schools have started again, and all traders and florists were also back home, and yet, the cut flower market was still slow and quiet during the entire month of September. As importers and traders were reporting, they really had to push to be able to sell something. Luckily, supplied quantities were not particularly big, neither from domestic production, nor from imports from the Netherlands and other overseas countries. Colombian carnations were reasonably

plentiful, after a long period of shortage. Towards the end of the month some oversupplies could be noticed. At the same moment it could be said that demand was just very low; anyway, too low to swallow the available quantities. However, purchase prices were still rather high, taking in account the period of the year. Also the first shipments of Turkish carnations arrived to the market. The general quality level was still very much summer like. Still there was some demand for them, but only from a special market segment.

Market News Service Cut Flowers and Ornamental Plants 5

Market Trends Plants Market in Europe

Netherlands Aalsmeer Auction Notes The August 2007 auction figures were published by the VBN (Organisation of all auctions in the Netherlands) as following: The houseplants turnover increased with +3.1%, compared to August 2006. Supplied quantities were +2.1% higher, while the total average price for all plants together ended up at 1.57 (last 1.55). Per product, some differences could be noticed: Higher prices for phalaenopsis orchids, dracaena, ficus, spathiphyllum, and zamioculcas. Lower prices for: chrysanthemum, kalanchoe, and anthurium. Garden plants turnover increased with +5.1%. Supplied quantities increased with +0.6%, while the total average price increased with 4 cents to 93 cents per piece this year. Throughout the first two weeks of September the supplied quantities, of both, flowering and green plants were really plentiful and considerably bigger than during the past weeks. Also compared to the same period of last year. Sold quantities were very big, both via the so-called clock as via the intermediary system. However when the supplied quantities to be marketed via the intermediary system are too high, growers

tend to switch to the clock system sales, resulting in negative effect on the prices. These prices of nearly all products, sold via the two respective systems this September, were considerably higher than during the comparable weeks of last year. Accumulatively, from January until mid September the prices and results have been better than last year during the same period. As from the beginning of the month the so-called special autumn products, like ericas, callunas, pot chrysanthemums, and other seasonal products, took a considerably share of the market. Normally, this has quite an impact on the other traditional house and garden plants. The seasonal plants arrived in the market much earlier than normally, all due to the warm weather in April and May. As said, prices of most of these products were lower in September, especially of the smaller sized pots. Throughout the last two weeks of the month supplied quantities of flowering and green houseplants decreased, while prices remained steady as they were throughout the first half of the month.

Importers and Traders Notes The plant export figures of August 2007 were published by HBAG (the organisation of exporters) as following: The export value increase to all countries together was +1%, compared to August 2006. Per country (top 10), however, quite some differences were noticed. Better and positive results to countries, like France, Switzerland, Spain, Denmark and other countries. Negative results of exports to: Germany, United Kingdom, Belgium and Sweden. The export figures of the so-called starter material were negative (-12% compared to August of last year) throughout the month of August, especially to: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan and Poland. Only to the

following top 10 countries, Belgium, USA, Denmark, Spain and other countries, positive results were obtained. Throughout the entire month of August the fully grown plants business was quite normal, compared to the past years; nothing special, but neither bad at all. During summer 2007 the houseplants market was steady, while prices were higher than normally during the whole summer period of the year. One of the major reasons was the moderate weather this year; not very hot, but neither cold; but most of the time cloudy with temperatures around 20 25 Celsius. In such circumstances most of the


people stay inside their homes. There were not many evenings that one could comfortably sit outside. When people/consumers cannot stay so much outdoors, they do more shopping and at the same moment they buy more plants and flowers, just for home use. In case of buying plants, consumers preferred buying more flowering plants than green plants. Yet, at the end of the month the green plants market improved considerably. For the tropical ornamental young plants sector the market gradually improved again after the real summer time (June and July).

More greenhouse space became available and most of the workers came back from their holidays. So growers started to buy more young plants to fill up the empty space. Enough quantities of nearly all types of plants were plentifully available, except of areca palms, mainly of the most popular sizes of 80 100 centimetres. If more quantities would have been available, they would easily have been sold, importers reported. The general quality level of the imported material was rather good. Hardly or no quality problems have been noticed lately.

Denmark During the month of August and the beginning of September the fully-grown plants market was steady, but not very lively. However, it was still better the same period of the past years. So far, this year is better than the previous years, with higher prices for nearly all the types of plants. Throughout the given period it is always slower for the green houseplants, while it is slightly livelier for the flowering houseplants. It is, however The period of the so-called seasonal plants, most of them used for outdoor decorations. These plants are callunas, ericas and pot chrysanthemums. Especially the very big, so called-bulb chrysanthemums are only for outdoor use, specially produced and sold for

the approaching All Saints Days at the beginning of November. In the tropical ornamental young plants sector the market was getting livelier again, after the summer holidays time. All empty greenhouse space had to be filled up again. Enough new youngplant material was available from the producing countries, except of the variety Janeth Graig compacta, in particular of the smaller sizes. Hardly or no real quality problems were showing up lately. We have to be very alert during the coming weeks/months when the rainy season will be passing by most of the producing countries in the tropical regions, importers say.

Germany As from the beginning of the month September, the fully grown houseplants market has become much slower and more difficult; mostly because of the heavy competition of the so-called seasonal autumn plants. Plants like erica, calluna and pot chrysanthemum, all supplied in very big quantities. In case of the chrysanthemums an over supply situation has caused heavy pressure on the prices. However, also the other two products were facing some price pressure, even though most of them were still sold. All these mentioned pants came into flowering much earlier than normally, as re4sult of the very nice summer weather during the months of April and May. Normally, the real peak season of the ercicas and callunas is taking place at the beginning of October. It needs to be seen how the market will develop further on. The

heavy supplies of the garden plants also, for sure, affected the green and flowering houseplant sector. Prices were lower, than during the past month and also lower than last year in September. Still they were acceptable and growers could still benefit from the rather positive sales and prices during the first eight months of the year. In the tropical ornamental young plants sector continuously plenty of new young plant material was available for very reasonable prices. Also in this branch oversupply was noticed for phoenix roebelinii, while areca palms were scarcer. Some more prices for the respective products like: dracaena marginata 6 inch canes for 0.33, braid dr. marginata 24 canes for 7.50, 12 canes for 0.48, dr. Janeth Graig compacta 18 canes for 1.80,


J.Gr. Compacta 2 feet branched canes for 5.00 and 3 canes for 7.50, schefflera braid 12 canes for 2.20, schefflera Trinette braid 12 canes for 3.80, phoenix

roebelinii 2 canes for 15.00, Beaucarnea braid canes with a 6 diameter bulb for 8,00, 36 canes with an 8 diameter bulb for 6.50.

Sweden Since most of the consumers were back from their summer holidays, the fully-grown plant market improved quite considerably throughout the month of September. However, it was expected to be even better. Flowering house and garden plants were more popular than the green houseplants during that period of the year. That is, however, normal for the end of the summer - beginning of the autumn. Mostly demanded and sold types of plants were the flowering houseplants: begonia, chrysanthemum,

kalanchoe and kalandiva, while among the flowering garden plants the most important products were erica, calluna, and pot chrysanthemum, in particular the very big, so-called bulb varieties. The real peak season of the mentioned garden plants market is expected to take place during the first half of October. These plants are mainly used for the All Saints and All Souls Days celebrations at the first and the second of November.

10 Market News Service (MNS) Cut Flowers and Ornamental Plants

Selected Floriculture World Info

Members Approve Merger of Floraholland and Aalsmeer Auction

The merger of Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer and FloraHolland has become a reality. Members of both cooperatives approved the merger proposal on September 19

night. This took place at General Assembly meetings held simultaneously in Aalsmeer and Naaldwijk. A two-thirds majority was needed for the merger proposal to succeed. In Aalsmeer, 85 percent voted in favor, while in Naaldwijk the percentage was 79 percent. The merger will take effect on January 1, 2008. The boards and managements of FloraHolland and Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer welcomed the members' "yes" vote. The decision means that the auction cooperatives will be able to maintain a strong market position for their members and partners in the ornamental flower and plant business and will be able to adapt their services to the changes taking place in the market. At the General Assembly meetings, both boards and managements emphasized the necessity of the merger. The reasons for the merger are strategic. As service providers, both organizations want to strengthen their joint markets. This can be done easier and more efficiently with a single organization than with two separate organizations. Furthermore, the merger partners say that joining forces can increase the strength of the Dutch auction system, by offering buyers an even broader range of

products. The merger is not an objective, but a means to be able to vigorously meet the demands of the future as an ornamental flower and plant business. Another goal of the merger is to limit costs throughout the chain by, among other things, greater standardization in the business chain. The merger plans were first launched in October last year with the signing of a declaration of intent to merge. In August, the Netherlands Competition Authority approved the merger. The Association of Wholesale Trade in Floricultural Products (VGB) also supports the merger of the two auction organizations. The coming months will be used to get the new organization ready on January 1, 2008. The main management positions have now been filled. The investment capacity for the coming five years has been set at a total of 400 million. The new cooperative called FloraHolland offers growers and customers a network of six auction locations (Aalsmeer, Naaldwijk, Rijnsburg, Bleiswijk, Venlo and Eelde), one nationally operating intermediary office and one Import division. The total annual sales via the new FloraHolland are about 4 billion. The aimed-for annual profit of the merger combination is 10 million. The organization expects sales to grow annually by about three percent. FloraHolland employs 4700 people. Source: FloraHolland 21/09/07

Voting and cheering


UK: Manchester Flower Centre to Boom A massive new wholesale flower market is to bloom in east Manchester. The 20,000 sq ft building will include a 10,000 sq ft refrigerated area at New Smithfield Market. Manchester Wholesale Flowers has been trading for over 20 years, and will consolidate all its operations in one unit. The self-contained unit will incorporate a showroom, a 10,000 sq ft refrigerated storage facility and an external service area for distribution services and customer car parking, all of which were formerly at different locations around Manchester. The

project is due to be completed by February 2008, and total investment value is 1.4m. It is expected to rally support for further regeneration at New Smithfield Market. Manchester Wholesale Flowers already sells more than 250,000 stems a week. Director Mark Window said: "We're expecting our turnover of 7m a year to grow. It will mean a huge improvement and be more environmentally friendly." Source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk 19/09/07

Vietnams Flower Exports to China Rise 20% Vietnam earned some 48,000 U.S. dollars from exporting fresh flowers to China in September, up 20 percent over August, according to local newspaper. Vietnamese flowers from central highlands Da Lat city, Hanoi capital and northern Hai Phong city, including rose, daisy and orchid, are much favored by Chinese southern cities as Guangzhou and Shenzhen . Quang Ba flower market is the wholesale flower market in Hanoi, which operates from 12am to 6am the next day. There are hundreds of growers around Hanoi coming here to trade flowers, selling to florists in the city and street sellers, the rest to couples and people like me who love flowers. The best time to visit the market is from 1 am because that's the time the

growers bring their flowers by motorbikes and trucks. They display their flowers on the ground and on the back of their motorbikes. The buyers check the flowers by torch and start bargaining. For 100 beautiful roses you usually pay one dollar. This market is a popular place for couples, to give each other flowers and propose. This is such a good idea for romantics. Locals and tourists usually come here to buy flowers for parties and also sit down at the small shop in the middle of the market, talking and having a drink. Most of the active people are men from rural areas around Hanoi who transport flowers from their villages up to Quang Ba for their family business. Source: Flowerweb 19/09/07+Xinhua 02/10/07

India: Domestic Market Hits Flower Exports, Likely to Miss 2010 Target

Floriculture in India is being viewed as a high growth industry but export of flowers face infrastructural problems like bad interior road, inadequate refrigerated transport and storage facilities besides domestic marketing problems. Tedious phyto sanitary certification and an unorganized domestic market also hinder exports. There is also a shortage of trained manpower to handle commercial floriculture activity. While Indian growers have been successful in producing world class quality flowers at low

costs, high air freight rates, low cargo capacity available, imposition of import duties, inadequate export infrastructure etc. have reduced their competitiveness, according to a study conducted by the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). According to the study the area under flowers has crossed 100,000 hectares in India. Floriculture in India includes traditional flowers such as marigold, jasmine, aster, rose, chrysanthemum,


tuberose as well as modern flowers like carnation, gerbera, gladiolus, anthurium, etc. Referring to the production scenario, the study pointed out that the domestic flower production had shown a growth in the recent past. The country had made noticeable advancement in the production of flowers. The growing of contemporary cut flowers like rose, gladiolus, tuberose, carnation, etc had led to their use for bouquets and arrangements of gifts, as well as decoration of both home and work place. A growing market had led to transformation of the activity of flower growing into a burgeoning industry. The study stated that the agro-climatic conditions in India facilitate production of all major flowers throughout the year in some part or the other. The improved transportation facilities had increased the availability of flowers all over the country. The study further pointed out that marketing of cut flowers in India was very unorganized at present. In most metropolitan cities, with large market potential, flowers are brought to wholesale markets, which mostly operate in open yards. A few large flower merchants generally buy most of the produce and distribute it to local retail outlets after significant markup. The retail florist shops also usually operate in the open, on roadsides, with different flowers arranged in large buckets. In the metros, however, there are some good florist show rooms, where flowers are kept in controlled temperature conditions, with considerable attention to value added services, the study said. Floriculture exports from India had increased from Rs 430 million in 1995-96 to nearly Rs 3 billion (US$ 76 million) in 2005-06. This witnessed a growth of 35.4 per cent over the previous years value. There are more than 300 export-oriented units in India but many of them operate at less than 50 per cent of their capacity. By addressing the problems of the floriculture industry the government can turn this industry into a viable enterprise for earning foreign exchange. However, India may well miss its target for floriculture exports by 2010, says a leading industry body. Floriculture exports are likely to reach Rs.7 billion by 2010 end against the set target of Rs.10 billion (US$ 254 million), said a study conducted by the Associated

Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham). For India to achieve the target of Rs.10 billion exports by 2010, key issues such as economies of scale, product range, incorporation of latest varieties and quality control and certification, besides creation of effective cold chain management need to be addressed. Items that have business as well as commercial potential such as cut flowers, dry flowers, seeds, potted plants and micro-propagated plantlets should be encouraged, the body recommended. It also suggested greater mobilization of resources with the increased cooperation from financial institutions for the exporters. The chamber has also suggested setting up of an export promotion council, establishment of appropriate marketing and distribution channels, abolition of import duty on inputs and reduction in existing airfreight tariff structure to promote exports in countries like the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and Japan.

The annual domestic demand for the flowers is growing at a rate of over 25 percent Assocham highlighted. Enormous genetic diversity, varied agro climatic conditions and versatile human resources offer India a unique scope for judicious employment of existing resources and exploration of avenues yet untouched, it added. Sources : newkerala.com 17/09/07 + NewsPost India 20/08/09


Sub Saharan East Africa: Flowers Among Region's Trade Strengths

A study conducted by the United States International Trade Commission has identified cut flowers, fish (prepared and preserved), flat-rolled steel, garments and apparels, financial services and tourism as the sectors where East African economies have the biggest comparative advantages in global trade. According to a 214-page report titled Sub-Saharan Africa: Factors Affecting Trade Patterns of Selected Industries, Kenya enjoys a comparative advantage in five of the six sectors in which the East African economies can compete favourably at the international level - making it the most grounded exporter in the region. Kenya's Achilles' heel is, surprisingly, the financial services sector. Uganda comes second with a comparative advantage in three (cut flowers, tourism and financial services) of the six sectors, while Tanzania is third, enjoying a comparative advantage in only tourism and flat-rolled steel. Rwanda is fourth with tourism being the only sector where it can make substantial gains against competitors on the global market. According to the study's findings, while increased demand was the predominant factor affecting export growth in the selected industries in the 2001-05 period, a number of government policies and initiatives related to investment, infrastructure, trade agreements and regional integration also contributed significantly. Kenya is specifically mentioned in the report as a case study of how favourable government policies can influence the growth of exports in a specific sector. The report notes that the Kenyan government attributes early growth of the floriculture sector in the 1990s in part to the liberal macroeconomic policy environment and government encouragement of foreign investment and international trade. "The Kenyan government's National Export Strategy focuses on certain priority sectors, including horticulture, which includes cut flowers," says the report, further explaining that the government's main role in

encouraging the floriculture industry has been to provide infrastructure development, incentives and support services. The investment and business environment in Kenya has been enhanced through government divestiture and privatisation; the abolition of import and export licensing; the removal of administrative and price controls; freedom of movement of foreign exchange in and out of the country; liberalisation in the banking sector; and the removal of import duties on packaging, seeds, agro-chemicals and other necessary inputs for floriculture exports," the report adds. These policies have made Kenya's cut flower industry the world's second largest after Colombia, having leapfrogged Ecuador and the Netherlands, which were ahead of it in 2000. By far the largest producer of cut flowers in sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya registered an average growth rate of 111 per cent between 2001 and 2005. In 2005, Kenya earned $357.7 million from cut flower exports - up from the $310.6 million that it earned the year before. Although Uganda is way off the pace compared with Kenya, its own earnings from cut flowers also grew substantially with the country earning $35 million in 2005 - $10 million more than what South Africa earned in the same year. On the whole, total sub-Saharan cut flower exports rose steadily between 2001 and 2005 - increasing by 65 per cent over that period as other countries in East and Southern Africa attempted to replicate Kenya's success in floriculture. This was at least 20 per cent higher than the global exports growth rate of 41 per cent, which saw the total global earnings rise from $1.7 billion in 2001 to more than $2.4 billion in 2005. Source: East African (Nairobi)11/09/07


Rwanda: Dutch Fund Training Flower Farmers Karuturi Networks, a little-known Bangalore Nuffic, a Dutch institute, has given the Rwanda Flower Farmers Association funds to help train farmers in better farming and production strategies. The move will position the country as a leading flower grower in the Great Lakes Region. Rwanda is hoping to increase flower gardens to 200 hectares in three years for export to the European markets. According to the association's president, Gabriel Ngendabanga, the money will sponsor 20 members from six cooperative unions in different provinces for a field study tour in

Naivasha, Kenya. "Training will run for three months and expose Rwandan growers to modern commercial flower growing," Ngendabanga said. It will particularly cover crop management, pest and disease control, fertilization, post harvest and package handling. Focus will be put upon various species of roses. The association, which started with two hectares of flowers, has increased to 42 hectares in Butare and 50 hectares in the Northern Province. Currently the association has 1,600 farmers. Source: allafrica.com 24/09/07

Uganda: Flowers Sector for Shake Up Things are not looking so rosy for Uganda's flower farms after two of the country's key investors signaled their intention to exit trade. While their motivations may be different, the move has the potential to cause a major shakeup in the industry. Rosebud and Victoria Flowers, both located on the shores of Lake Victoria in Entebbe, have shown indications to quit Uganda's burgeoning flower trade. Rosebud and Victoria flower firms plan to exit the business due to lack of government incentives. Rosebud is a $13 million (Shs22.7 billion) investment employing more than1000 people. The owner said he wants to sell off his 11-hectare farm was to concentrate on other businesses. "I am looking for an investor to buy the flower farm. This is not about making losses and there is no way I can sell a loss-making business". Early last year, the two flower farms were hit by a storm that raged across the northern shores of the often-peaceful Lake Victoria. The strong winds brought down almost all the greenhouses, destroying the flowers within. This ripped apart the irrigation systems, leading to a $7.2 million (about Shs13 billion) loss. This calamity was later in the year translated into the annual export earnings when the entire industry realized losses. According to the figures from the Export Promotion Board (UEPB), flower exports registered $32 million (Shs59

billion) in 2006, down from $36 million (Shs66 billion) recorded the previous year.

While the big two have considered exiting, other companies have put more money into expansion programmes. UFEA Executive Director Juliet Musoke said: "Four investors have expressed interest to start operations here. Of these one has started laying the ground work and the three are waiting for logistical issues to be sorted". Ms Musoke said a good climate, which provides all year round production compared to other flower growing countries, had attracted many investors into the country at the same time motivating existing ones. "Uganda's climate is good for the cuttings unlike in other areas the reason we chose to stay here," Mr Olav Boenders, the managing director of Wagagai flower farm in Entebbe with 9 hectares of


roses, and 5 hectares of chrysanthemum cuttings. Ms Musoke said the development would be a positive move towards UFEA's expansion programme of the industry. UFEA intends to double production from the present 200-hectare to at least 400 by 2010 under the Uganda National Floriculture Industry Strategy, which is expected to translate into an annual export earning in excess of $50 million (Shs87.5 billion), up from about $30 million (Shs52.5 billion) recorded at the close of 2006. More than 10,000 people were expected to get jobs up from the current 6,000. The association currently has a membership of 20 companies, which export more than 7,500 metric tones of roses and chrysanthemum cuttings. According to Mr Hiten Shah, the financial controller of Fiduga Limited, the company has is expanding from15 hectares to 18 hectares. "We want to meet the increasing demand," Mr Shah said. Mr Hudda Mahmood, the managing director of Mairye Flower Farm said: "We have started expanding and we hope to double our production from the 20 hectares to 40 hectares in the next five years". Mr

Mahmood however said this is to take advantage of the government's expected implementation of the promised incentives and a reduction in the freight costs. Freight in Uganda is 20 percent more expensive compared to Kenya and Ethiopia, Uganda's immediate competitors in the region, he argued. Recently, a joint venture between the Uganda-based Madhvani Group and the Netherlands-based Flower Direct announced that it would start the nation's first chrysanthemum flowers farm. Madhvani Group said it expected to earn 1.4 million euros (Shs3.2 billion) from 13 hectares in its first year. In his budget 2007/8 speech, Dr Ezra Suruma announced incentives to attract investors into Uganda, which included a 10-year tax holiday to companies engaged in value added exports, withholding tax exemptions and stamp duty exemptions for those engaged in share capital and mortgage business. He also granted a waiver on duty on raw materials, plant and machinery. Allafrica.com / The Monitor (Kampala) 11/09/07

Ethiopia: Countrys Flower Sector Outgrows Kenya Ethiopia is now Africa's second largest flower exporter after Kenya, with its export earnings growing by 500 per cent over the past year. This has left Kenya stunned, given that five years ago, the Horn of Africa country was doing less than $20 million of exports compared with the East African giant's $300 million. It is estimated that, this year, Ethiopia will close its books at $120 million, slightly less than half of Kenya's earnings. "It has taken Ethiopia five years to achieve half of what we have in three decades," Kenya Flower Council chairman Erastus Mureithi said. Going by this rate, Kenya could be overtaken by Ethiopia in a decade, he added. It is now estimated that Ethiopian flower exports could generate an about $300 million in just another two-three years. According to the head of the Ethiopia export promotion department, Melaku Legesse, the export estimates are based on revenues earned over the past two years as well as growing demand for licenses to grow flowers

for the international market. Investors from the Netherlands, Germany, India and Israel have secured licenses for floricultural developments covering 1,700 hectares of land in the central region alone.

Investors from Uganda and Kenya have also jumped on the bandwagon, citing incentives they have failed to secure in their own countries. Sher Agencies, a Kenyan flower firm reputed to be the largest flower outfit in the world, is already operating one of the largest farms in Ethiopia.


Two years ago, Ethiopia went shopping for investors who were promised an attractive investment package of a five-year tax holiday, duty free machinery imports, and easy access to bank loans, all these sugar-coated with 70 per cent investment bank funding and easy acquisition of leased government land at $18 per hectare. The package was rated an alluring snare for project-hungry investors, particularly from Holland, who in addition to Ethiopia's offer got something else from their own government - development grants for shifting their production to The Horn. Another notable group of investors were white farmers from Zimbabwe whose farms were seized under President Mugabe's infamous land redistribution policy. A number went to try their luck in Ethiopia, where they have since settled. As all this was happening, Kenyan and Ugandan flower farmers were appealing to their governments for support, but their pleas went unheeded even as exporters threatened to relocate to Ethiopia. Two of Uganda's exporters are reported to have relocated while four Kenyan growers have opened operations in Ethiopia. Reports now indicate that Ethiopia's flowers are rapidly gaining market acceptance even in countries like Japan where Kenya, says KFC chief executive officer Jane Ngige, has not made inroads. A major United Kingdom retail chain, Morrisons, announced recently that it would soon stock Ethiopian flowers such as roses, carnations and hypericum. And an Indian floriculturist, Karuturi Networks, is among the latest investors to

set up shop in Ethiopia with a 50-hectare farm at Holeta, west of Addis Ababa, and plans to acquire an additional hectare, Mr Melaku reported. The managing director of Karuturi Networks, KS Ramakrishna, said Ethiopia's proximity to European and West Asian markets, its climate and attractive investment conditions led the company to establish operations there. There are about 70 flower farms in Ethiopia, of which 45 per cent are owned by local people and the remaining 55 per cent by foreign investors. This is similar to the situation in Kenya, which has just over 100 active flower exporters, half of them foreign-owned and members of the Flower Council, who supply 80 per cent of the country's exports. Some 39 foreign investment projects were licensed to be engaged in the flower sector in 2006/2007 alone, the Ethiopian Investment Agency's latest data indicated. Presently, there are 161 licensed foreign investment projects registered for flower production activities, which constitute 68 percent of the total projects so far registered, including the local ones. According to the data, the number of local projects registered in the sector has reached 75. The sector has kept attracting foreign investment to date, the data indicated. In the last one-month-and-half alone five new foreign investment projects in the field were licensed. Sources: Allafrica.com /East African (Nairobi)11/09/07 + Flowerweb 24/09/07

Ethiopia: Flower Exporters Strengthen Ties to Japan Flower exports to Japan reached 70,000 stems per week a year after export was launched to world's second largest economy in 2006. The Japanese Ambassador to Ethiopia vowed in a traditional flower arrangement demonstration held at the Addis Abeba City Hall that Japan would increase its flower imports from Ethiopia. A group of Japanese flower arrangement professionals arrived on the eve of the Ethiopian Millennium and demonstrated a flower arrangement ceremony, ikebana. The flower arrangement presentation was organised by the Ethiopian Women Exporters Association and the Japanese Ambassador

and staff of the Embassy. Brehane Deressa, mayor of Addis Abeba, said on the occasion that Ethiopia and Japan have close cultural similarities and ties, which is reinforced through cultural exchanges. The Japanese professionals also staged another demonstration to give Ethiopians the opportunity to learn the art first hand. The flower industry in Ethiopia is labour-intensive and currently employs 50,000 people, out of which 70pc are women. The sector is exponentially expanding, particularly in Rift Valley area. However, the fledgling business is suffering the


repercussions of lack of local demand as almost all produces are exported. Tsegaye Abebe, chiarman of Horticulture Producers and Exporters Association, said that the flower export to Japan and the rest of the world has shown a continuous increase in volume and earnings. Hadia M. Gonji, flower exporter and vice president of Ethiopian Women Exporters Association, told that the country is benefiting considerably from the sector and there is still unutilised capacity. A significant proportion of the floriculture farms in Ethiopia are located around Addis Abeba within a 10km radius. Although 200 projects in the floriculture industry have been licensed, only 60 of the licensed flower farms go into operations currently. Hadia also added that the demonstrations would help to increase

domestic consumption, boosting local demand to supplement the export predominately to the Netherlands. The Japanese Ambassador stressed that the success that has been achieved in coffee export promotion through traditional coffee ceremony should also be repeated in the flower sector through developing a culture of local flower consumption. Data from the Ethiopian Customs Authority show that in 2006/07, Ethiopia generated over 63 million dollars from the export of flowers showing a 289pc growth from that of the previous year. Source: Allafrica.com /Addis Fortune (Addis Ababa) 17/09/07

Kenya: Horticultural Bodies Prepares for Merger The rivalry between Kenya's horticultural associations is set to come to an end following plans to merge the Fresh Produce Exporters Association and the Kenya flower council. The two bodies have for years been locked up in intense competition, leading to fragmentation of the sector which now faces several challenges in the world market. Stringent standards from an increasingly environmentally aware consumer in Europe with regard to agronomic practices, sanitation, labour practices and the current carbon miles threat of air freighted products are some of the challenges. Only last week the International Trade Centre opposed moves that could see valuable organic label removed from Kenyan products as one of a range of measures being considered by UK based certifier, the Soil Association, to reduce the impact of airfreight. The merger, players in the industry say, will help the two address these challenges under one roof and abolish the multiplicity and duplication of roles that have significantly impeded the growth of the sector. Under the newly established umbrella body, to be named the Kenya Horticultural Council, two units will be created to cater

for the domestic market, which is fast growing, while another will cater for international consumers. Though the sector earned the country Ksh 49 billion (US$ 710 million) last year, and recorded a growth rate of 14 percent, much more has to be done to increase market accessibility to the European Union and other emerging markets. The move, officials say, will make the industry more vibrant by consolidating the roles played by the two groups and increase efficiency and competitiveness in the sector, which employs about 4 million people in the rural areas. One of the challenges facing the umbrella body would be to lobby the government to establish a competent structured authority that would act as a one-stop-shop for all levies and certification centre. Currently both exporters of cut flower and horticulture have to transport their commodities to different institutions for certification and payment of various levies making the process difficult and tedious. Sources: Allafrica.com /East African Business Week 10/09/07 + Flowerweb 26/09/07


Kenyan Flowers Head for Comesa More of Kenyas flowers will go to the Common Market for Eastern and Central Africa countries in a new initiative by Kenya Flower Council and the Kenya Flower Vendors Association. At an exhibition dubbed Soko la Maua flower market in Nairobi, the two organisations showcased flowers grown in the countries and said that it was the beginning of an annual event where consumers in the region will be introduced to the culture of using flowers to express emotions such as love, sadness, gratitude, remorseful, and goodwill. Council chairman Erastus Mureithi said the flower culture has failed to take root in Africa, despite its being deeply entrenched in Europe, where more than 90 per cent of Kenyas flowers are sold. Under the new arrangement, the Flower Council will assist vendors to acquire quality flowers and arrange them in accordance with the latest trends in international markets. According to Jane Ngige, chief executive officer of the Council, domestic consumption of flowers holds potential investment opportunities, especially for the young people who are the projects main target. She said that flowers that are not exported because of minor defects could be prepared to suit local buyers instead of being discarded, as is the current practice. Mrs Ngige said that the Comesa region, if tapped, could prove a viable alternative to the stringent export market, which is currently threatened by the carbon miles debate among other changing standards. If the region embraces the flower culture the way the Council wants it to, a new generation of growers could be supported. The council is prepared to assist them to comply with a code of practice that encourages farmers to take care of the environment by constructing wetlands and adopting new technologies like containerized growing where water is re-used. This group of farmers will be specifically growing flowers for local consumption. The development could tilt the balance to the same side as the vegetables and fruits

sector where just under a third is exported. According to the Horticultural Crops Development Authority, local consumption of fruits and vegetables is estimated to be worth Ksh120 billion ($1.79 billion) compared with export earnings of Ksh49 billion ($731million). The biggest challenge which the council says it is up to is promoting a flower culture in a region where the whole thing is considered alien. We want to enable people in the region to appreciate the beauty of flowers that are produced in their own countries, Mrs Ngige said. Except on Valentines Day February 14 observed internationally as a lovers day with red roses, it is rare to see people carrying flowers. Even on Valentines many people frown at the idea, but what might not be commonly known is that it is more expensive to buy a flower here than it is in Europe on that day. A bunch of red roses goes for Ksh 500 ($7.5) while a stem sells at between Ksh 50 and Ksh100 (75 US cents-$1.5) Part of the local flower promotion will include educating consumers on preservation, considered a major reason for shunning the commodity. The vendors will be trained in handling technicalities. Both vendors and consumers will be educated on the meaning of different colours and varieties of flowers. Except for the red rose, which signifies love, the majority is totally ignorant about other colours such as yellow, pink and the various combinations. Farmers who attended the Soko la Maua show are excited about the prospects of exporting flowers within the Comesa region, especially to countries not requiring airfreight, considered the biggest expenditure in the business. Flowers from the City Market in Nairobi go as far as Zambia, Tanzania and Uganda albeit in small quantities because the business has not been adequately promoted. The flower vendors are now rooting for a location where consumers can access flowers easily. Source: Nationmedia.com /The East African 04/09/07


Events Calendar

Flower Days Calendar

Month Day Event / Holiday Country

12 National Day Spain 14 Teachers Appreciations Day Poland 16 National Boss Day USA 19 Chung Yeung Festival China 20 Sweetest Day USA 23 National Day Hungary 24 United Nations Day USA 28 Independence Day Czech Republic

October

31 Halloween November 1 All Saints Day

2 All Souls Day 3 Culture Day Japan 4 Accord and Reconciliation Day Russia 7 Election Day USA 11 Fathers Day Finland, Norway, Sweden 11 Liberations Day WWI France 12 Veterans Day USA

Source: BBH

Exhibitions and Conferences

Source: BBH

Dates Event Country

30 Sept 2 Oct Hortech Colombia Bogota, Colombia 3-5 October Proflora 2007 Cartagena, Colombia

3-4 October Canadian Greenhouse Conference Toronto, Canada

4-6 October Fl. Nursery + Allied Trade Show Orlando, Fl. USA 4-7 October Flora Olomouc Autumn Season Olomouc

9-12 October Horti Fair International Flower Trade Show Amsterdam, The Netherlands

11-13 October IFEX 2007, International Flower Expo Tokyo Makuhari, Japan

17-19 October Iberflora Valencia, Spain 6-8 November Expo Flowers Iran 2007 Teheran, Iran 8-11 November First International Flower Expo Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam


Statistical Information

Quarterly Price Statistic, European Markets Accumulated sales results of the Dutch VBN flower auctions over weeks 01 through 39 in

2007

Notes on the statistical data below

Cut Flowers Accumulatively from January 1 until September 30 2007 the total sold quantities of all origins (domestic and import supplies) in all the Dutch auctions have decreased by -0.4% only, compared to the same period of 2006; nearly to be neglected. The months that supplied quantities were relatively lower this year were August and September, during which months the prices were rather high, especially taking in account that these two are more or less summer months. In the prior reports it was already mentioned that the very moderate summer weather this year was a major reason for these lower quantities and higher prices. Import quantities were, however, slightly higher than last year with some +3.5%. Per product quite some differences could be noticed. Much bigger total quantities were supplied and sold this year of the products: ammi majus, anemones, eustoma, mini gerberas, hypericum, leucadendron, lilies LA and oriental, ornithogalum, ranunculus, and tea roses. Much lower quantities of products: spray carnations, carthamus, delphinium, liatris, lilies Asiatic and longiflorum, small and sweetheart roses, spray roses, rudbeckia, solidago, trachelium, and wax flowers. Prices, in general, were slightly higher in 2007. For the 8.8 billion flowers one cent more was paid than last year and even two cents more than in 2005. For the auctions this 8.8 billion cents means an amount of 88 million euros higher turnover, which is a significant amount. Per product best prices were paid for: carnations, carthamus, delphinium, eustoma, spray roses, rudbeckia, trachelium and veronica. Relatively lower prices for: ammi majus, asters, hypericum, proteas and ranunculus. Rose prices were only, but slightly higher this year, with one cent per stem.

Houseplants During the first nine months of 2007 total supplied and sold quantities were nearly identical to the two previous years. However, prices were higher this year by 12 cent per piece, compared to 2006 and 22 cents higher than in 2005. Taking in account the total sold quantities of 650 million plants the added turnover was 6.5 million ; not bad at all. Remarkable was the much lower supply of nearly all the ficus varieties, while prices for all these types were considerably better this year. Per sold product quantities were considerably bigger of: chamaedorea, chrysalidocarpus, cordyline, cycas, phoenix canariensis and roebelinii and all sanseveria. Lower


quantities this year, compared to the same period of 2006 of: cocos palms, most of the dracaena and ficus types and yuccas. Prices were considerably better this year for: cocos palms, most of the dracaena and ficus types, phoenix roebelinii, yucca single canes and tips. Lower prices for: aglaonema, chamaedorea, chrysalidocarpus, cordyline compacta purple stripes, cycas, and most of the sanseveria types.

Prices Weekly data is provided in kindness of the Dutch Flower Auctions Association (VBN). Weekly quantities and prices are the sum over all the following auctions in The Netherlands: Aalsmeer, FH Naaldwijk, FH Rijnsburg, FH Bleiswijk, FH Eelde, FH ZON, VON, and Vleuten. The accumulated data below is the sum of the weekly sales results of all the above flower auctions over weeks 01 through 39 in 2007 Index: All Countries Total products, originating from The Netherlands and all other supplying countries. Import Products supplied from exporting countries, excluding The Netherlands. Top 10 importing countries are: Kenya, Israel, Ecuador, Uganda, South Africa, Spain, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Germany, and Italy Qnt_ Quantities sold, in Stems (for cut flowers) or in Units (for plants) P_ Average price per Stem (for cut flowers) or per Unit (for plants) in Euro Green number is higher than in 2006 Red number is lower than in 2006

Cut Flowers All Countries

Group Name Product Name Qnt_2007 Qnt_2006 Qnt_2005 P_07 P_06 P_05

Cut Flowers Total 8,832,496,20 8,870,773,072 9,161,091,082 0.22 0.21 0.20 Alstroemeria Total 191,810,146 192,124,334 206,977,024 0.16 0.15 0.14 Ammi majus Total 10,483,629 7,505,106 6,818,735 0.15 0.19 0.16 Anemone Total 54,765,796 47,667,294 49,682,558 0.11 0.11 0.11 Anthurium Total 61,435,198 62,340,523 65,316,923 0.52 0.50 0.44 Aster Total 24,666,976 21,001,068 27,639,335 0.22 0.25 0.21 Carnations Spray Total 42,839,652 69,468,132 79,083,111 0.13 0.10 0.10 Carnations Stan. Total 107,302,592 104,942,616 103,252,327 0.17 0.15 0.15 Carthamus Total 14,684,650 18,147,429 18,892,439 0.17 0.14 0.15 Chrysant. Spray Total 1,000,052,38 1,001,941,200 1,036,018,223 0.22 0.21 0.21 Delphinium Total 19,637,672 24,310,846 24,764,838 0.33 0.25 0.25 Eustoma Total 91,155,703 89,562,853 92,302,740 0.34 0.31 0.29 Gerbera Large Total 146,075,541 144,061,116 167,786,519 0.23 0.24 0.22 Gerbera Mini Total 502,180,355 434,686,144 409,399,499 0.12 0.13 0.13 Gladiolus Big Total 50,842,955 50,229,827 50,069,831 0.16 0.15 0.14 Gypsophila Total 132,788,123 132,334,629 131,840,178 0.19 0.19 0.19 Helianthus Total 55,095,704 55,413,229 55,874,717 0.30 0.27 0.27 Hypericum Total 142,038,307 114,169,822 130,822,895 0.15 0.17 0.16 Leucadendron Total 20,647,597 18,681,567 16,824,623 0.15 0.15 0.16 Liatris Total 4,400,324 5,842,350 7,179,692 0.16 0.16 0.14 Lilium Asiatic Total 40,908,863 41,963,973 67,068,053 0.34 0.35 0.28 Lilium LA Total 58,550,988 51,328,094 49,430,884 0.34 0.34 0.31 Lilium Longiflor. Total 52,459,565 59,479,395 56,409,451 0.40 0.37 0.40 Lilium Oriental Total 128,237,349 117,963,229 110,437,522 0.60 0.58 0.61 Limonium Total 45,546,818 46,588,474 54,184,831 0.21 0.20 0.19 Nerine Total 2,278,411 2,523,200 2,675,862 0.39 0.36 0.34 Ornithogalum Total 49,821,293 45,287,155 43,519,390 0.16 0.15 0.14 Protea Total 2,517,194 2,315,821 2,640,401 0.81 0.91 0.94


Group Name Product Name Qnt_2007 Qnt_2006 Qnt_2005 P_07 P_06 P_05 Ranunculus Total 63,218,329 56,095,019 51,431,942 0.13 0.15 0.14 Rose Large Total 1,823,928,76 1,728,214,287 1,698,805,587 0.28 0.27 0.25 Rose large Akito 78,743,286 82,051,442 83,343,010 0.22 0.20 0.18 Rose large Avalanche+ 90,662,827 64,374,856 52,097,427 0.39 0.34 0.32 Rose large First Red 14,628,786 19,504,066 38,494,886 0.23 0.29 0.23 Rose large Grand Prix 101,829,198 81,167,535 86,984,771 0.47 0.52 0.43 Rose large Inka 22,841,857 25,523,840 34,821,681 0.13 0.13 0.13 Rose large Milva 19,809,669 28,945,480 35,325,907 0.20 0.23 0.25 Rose large Passion 157,402,979 152,675,453 152,938,498 0.38 0.37 0.32 Rose large Red Berlin 4,219,580 27,402,446 52,619,729 0.37 0.30 0.25 Rose large Sphinx 51,888,688 69,884,132 76,971,775 0.22 0.19 0.20 Rose large Vendela 33,632,865 39,236,365 43,335,106 0.34 0.31 0.27 Rose Small Total 600,722,823 711,143,599 912,043,926 0.13 0.12 0.11 Rose Small Black Beauty 5,170,800 13,807,280 24,901,335 0.11 0.10 0.09

Rose Small Candid Prophyta 17,236,470 25,632,976 26,294,019 0.17 0.16 0.16

Rose Small Chelsea 41,001,445 45,288,247 49,468,702 0.12 0.12 0.13 Rose Small Escimo 16,461,582 23,951,481 28,818,193 0.13 0.11 0.11 Rose Small Frisco 11,476,282 33,549,160 52,955,290 0.08 0.10 0.10 Rose Small Golden Gate 10,677,986 15,168,271 20,748,687 0.11 0.13 0.13 Rose Small Mixed Colors 117,591,157 128,611,297 147,647,682 0.10 0.10 0.08 Rose Small Poeme! 21,082,166 26,880,870 36,769,387 0.12 0.11 0.11 Rose Small Red Calypso 56,706,748 44,046,124 44,427,064 0.14 0.14 0.11 Rose Small Sacha 5,975,842 12,098,370 20,310,064 0.14 0.13 0.13 Rose Small Sunbeam 10,726,775 19,482,428 26,335,798 0.12 0.13 0.13 Rose Spray Total 51,634,051 55,984,646 67,362,120 0.36 0.29 0.24 Rudbeckia Total 1,414,395 3,876,835 3,784,635 0.14 0.08 0.09 Ruscus Total 47,274,376 48,250,503 51,953,753 0.09 0.08 0.08 Solidago Total 75,321,197 79,660,245 83,947,144 0.13 0.13 0.13 Trachelium Total 18,292,732 24,023,051 27,981,309 0.25 0.20 0.20 Tulip Total 1,317,945,30

81,383,952,884 1,348,983,732 0.14 0.14 0.12

Veronica Total 41,876,036 43,779,630 40,043,394 0.17 0.13 0.14 Wax Flower Total 36,808,318 45,080,892 41,694,894 0.16 0.15 0.14

Cut Flowers Import

Group Name Product Name Qnt_2007 Qnt_2006 Qnt_2005 P_07 P_06 P_05 Cut Flowers Total 2,608,115,569 2,515,005,144 2,584,368,664 0.16 0.16 0.14 Alstroemeria Total 5,924,145 7,397,911 8,090,156 0.12 0.12 0.11 Ammi majus Total 8,469,725 6,248,200 5,503,115 0.14 0.20 0.16 Anemone Total 46,729,811 36,725,447 34,858,897 0.10 0.09 0.09 Aster Total 12,103,335 11,183,306 11,388,151 0.19 0.21 0.19 Carnations Spray Total 26,064,011 46,496,495 54,091,700 0.10 0.09 0.08 Carnations Stan. Total 68,900,972 59,625,185 57,339,077 0.15 0.13 0.14 Carthamus Total 3,983,405 4,659,571 5,192,988 0.17 0.18 0.16 Chrysant. Spray Total 1,525,382 812,750 559,102 0.14 0.16 0.16 Delphinium Total 7,349,700 10,611,825 8,964,968 0.23 0.17 0.17 Eustoma Total 14,526,886 12,581,185 11,465,710 0.25 0.24 0.20 Gerbera Large Total 8,789,702 10,043,587 11,407,499 0.23 0.21 0.19 Gerbera Mini Total 467,315 586,578 814,938 0.19 0.14 0.16 Gladiolus Big Total 2,364,156 2,257,492 1,355,345 0.30 0.32 0.25 Gypsophila Total 128,361,167 124,107,006 118,211,241 0.18 0.19 0.19


Plants All Countries Group Name Product Name Qnt_2007 Qnt_2006 Qnt_2005 P_2007 P_06 P_05

Houseplants Total 650,057,733 641,845,887 650,079,489 1.53 1.41 1.31 Aglaonema Maria Christina 80,380 47,288 31,898 1.75 1.93 2.21 Aglaonema Silver Queen

C55,017 38,662 67,315 2.44 2.52 1.95

Chamaedorea Eleg. Narrow Leaf 10,643 34,617 294,816 1.32 0.60 0.40 Chamaedorea Eleg. Wide Leaf 5,333,038 4,428,398 4,788,093 0.53 0.56 0.56 Chrysalidocarpus Areca 4,163,311 3,871,740 3,023,125 3.08 3.17 3.42 Cocos Nucifera 70,978 143,822 87,906 2.65 2.49 2.57 Cordyline Red Edge 97,330 183,353 292,916 0.58 0.52 0.48 Cordyline Compac. Purple Strips 557,945 416,944 672,757 0.42 0.59 0.48

Group Name Product Name Qnt_2007 Qnt_2006 Qnt_2005 P_07 P_06 P_05 Helianthus Total 16,671,021 15,777,638 20,861,016 0.32 0.35 0.26 Hypericum Total 124,851,045 97,678,125 109,059,956 0.15 0.18 0.16 Leucadendron Total 20,396,917 18,215,307 16,490,449 0.15 0.15 0.16 Liatris Total 2,218,780 3,770,460 5,378,545 0.21 0.19 0.14 Lilium Asiatic Total 455,570 777,554 592,610 0.24 0.28 0.19 Lilium LA Total 456,165 319,576 189,145 0.27 0.20 0.21 Lilium Longiflor. Total 9,842,890 10,268,843 7,665,483 0.30 0.27 0.32 Lilium Oriental Total 1,137,970 1,278,412 1,338,300 0.44 0.30 0.37 Limonium Total 23,086,340 22,877,445 24,550,108 0.20 0.21 0.19 Nerine Total 180,150 153,850 74,508 0.31 0.31 0.35 Ornithogalum Total 42,811,576 38,396,183 35,149,886 0.15 0.15 0.14 Protea Total 2,508,364 2,300,675 2,512,184 0.81 0.92 0.95 Ranunculus Total 50,502,532 43,438,907 36,546,483 0.12 0.13 0.13 Rose Large Total 803,983,316 636,430,796 558,967,531 0.18 0.18 0.16 Rose large Akito 40,535,316 31,675,384 33,296,066 0.13 0.12 0.13 Rose large Duett 32,822,865 29,396,780 23,361,560 0.17 0.18 0.17 Rose large First Red 9,543,266 10,787,108 19,428,446 0.22 0.24 0.17 Rose large Inka 22,808,837 25,442,740 34,112,921 0.13 0.13 0.13 Rose large Inka (outdoor) 2,444,000 4,898,740 9,962,134 0.11 0.10 0.10 Rose large Jupiter 5,208,528 8,932,010 12,380,290 0.13 0.13 0.13 Rose large Marie-Claire! 37,396,790 29,203,212 22,071,135 0.23 0.25 0.25 Rose large Milva 15,961,229 17,042,580 15,990,867 0.17 0.18 0.19 Rose large Mixed Colors 29,634,616 36,291,660 26,130,219 0.19 0.18 0.18 Rose large Shanti 18,731,593 20,826,787 19,150,730 0.14 0.15 0.15 Rose large Tropical Amazone 10,714,272 9,906,840 10,469,010 0.13 0.15 0.15 Rose Small Total 573,114,368 650,531,299 801,217,330 0.13 0.12 0.11 Rose Small Black Beauty 4,372,220 11,484,720 21,466,355 0.10 0.10 0.09 Rose Small Candid Prophyta 16,680,730 24,723,856 24,397,938 0.17 0.16 0.16 Rose Small Chelsea 40,696,585 45,221,167 48,832,482 0.12 0.12 0.13 Rose Small Escimo 12,835,362 21,447,751 24,095,783 0.12 0.10 0.09 Rose Small Frisco 10,528,522 25,857,800 38,343,930 0.08 0.09 0.09 Rose Small Golden Gate 10,662,466 15,007,391 20,597,167 0.11 0.13 0.13 Rose Small Mixed Colors 116,004,577 126,177,141 142,610,674 0.10 0.10 0.08 Rose Small Poeme! 21,033,726 26,790,850 34,795,567 0.12 0.11 0.10 Rose Small Red Calypso 56,510,428 43,978,804 43,489,285 0.14 0.14 0.11 Rose Small Sunbeam 10,277,515 18,186,348 23,860,698 0.12 0.13 0.12 Rose small Sunnysher 21,988,035 28,692,373 39,768,585 0.13 0.13 0.13


Group Name Product Name Qnt_2007 Qnt_2006 Qnt_2005 P_2007 P_06 P_05 Croton Aucubaefolia 38,662 19,764 26,525 0.90 1.04 0.55 Croton Gold Star 99,580 44,032 103,147 0.59 0.96 0.50 Croton Gold Sun 57,030 68,202 61,742 0.74 0.55 0.54 Croton Pictum 27,130 92,840 17,396 0.42 0.31 0.29 Cycas Revoluta 1,408,354 889,351 934,086 4.84 6.15 5.73 Dracaena Sanderiana 517,128 487,404 479,191 0.54 0.48 0.44 Dracaena Deremen. Warneckei 26,007 8,903 13,419 3.92 5.00 3.13 Dracaena Fragrans Compacta 392,336 561,061 469,459 0.73 0.62 0.60 Dracaena Fragrans Massangeana 181,807 250,304 146,887 1.44 1.23 1.38 Dracaena Margina. Bicolor 381,044 323,970 324,058 0.51 0.49 0.55 Dracaena Margina. Branched 42,190 49,432 100,390 6.59 6.99 5.12 Dracaena Margina. Single Canes 3,880,023 3,905,829 3,524,667 0.68 0.63 0.64 Dracaena Margina. Tips 291,482 378,350 477,052 0.41 0.40 0.42 Ficus Benjamina Braid 61,629 75,141 78,711 12.00 10.79 10.97 Ficus Benjamina Esther 123,559 153,660 140,375 0.63 0.50 0.53 Ficus Benjamina Exotica 418,195 706,921 653,477 3.70 3.36 3.75 Ficus Benjamina Golden King 245,221 292,948 348,490 2.23 1.99 2.27 Ficus Benjamina Monique 36,698 63,322 54,939 4.68 3.40 2.61 Ficus Benjamina Natasja 1,901,461 1,809,318 2,094,864 1.01 0.99 1.01 Ficus Benjamina Starlight 150,676 143,184 111,552 2.74 2.77 3.49 Ficus Binnendijk. Alii 98,793 121,636 218,677 5.66 5.25 3.49 Philodendron Red Emerald 44,123 44,302 39,404 5.81 5.61 6.07 Phoenix Canariensis 548,515 434,656 446,582 3.93 3.94 3.28 Phoenix Roebelenii 532,843 402,042 361,859 9.02 8.67 7.95 Polyscias Balfouriana 5,627 24,247 36,621 1.74 1.20 1.55 Sansevieria Futura Superba 741,507 518,375 536,248 0.94 1.20 1.47 Sansevieria Laurentii 668,736 407,792 214,652 1.72 2.49 2.95 Sansevieria cylindri. Skyline 76,966 46,324 1,551 6.23 10.18 6.97 Schefflera Arbor. Compacta 157,343 145,580 141,449 3.21 3.32 3.13 Schefflera Arbor. Gold Capella 446,891 482,878 507,362 2.41 2.33 2.64 Schefflera Arbor. Nora 660,751 742,058 748,918 1.07 1.10 1.16 Yucca Branched 48,558 43,031 28,415 15.45 15.54 16.50 Yucca Single cane 1,287,288 1,534,187 1,634,625 1.61 1.43 1.37

MNS Reports

Monthly Cut Flowers and Ornamental Plants Market Trends in Europe, Events, Price Review, Regular features 65 varieties in 4 Asian markets (Cut Flowers) 94 varieties in 11 European markets (Cut Flowers) 45 varieties in 5 European markets (Ornamental Plants) Fresh Tropical and Off-season Fruit and Vegetables Some 85 tropical and off-season products in 11 European markets Pharmaceutical Starting Materials/Essential Drugs

300 Most used substances in the production of essential drugs (generics) traded in major markets Quarterly Fruit Juices

Products alternating between selected European Markets and the United States market

Medicinal Plants & Extracts

A report covering various products in North America, Europe,India, China and Africa

Precious and Semi Precious Stone

Covers African supply situation to importing countries, primarily in the EU, the US, Japan, India and China. Essential Oils & Oleoresins Spices oils (including clove, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom); Spices seeds oils (coriander and others); herb oils (basil, thyme. sage); Citrus oils: perfumery oils (geranium, patchouli, vetiver and others)

Bi-Monthly Spices

Quoting 30 Products in selected markets in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States

Organics

Covers fruits and vegetables, fruit juice, coffee, tea, honey, essential oil & oleoresins, and spices.

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