Roses: poor supply from Africa

"Right now the rose season is comparable to last year. Not many flowers and low demand," says Rinus Bouwman from Dutch import company BSI. "However, the Ethiopian growers did have a good month in June. The supply was not great from Kenya because of the rain and the cold nights, but from Ethiopia the supply was normal and the prices were very good."

"After a good period, bad weeks always follow. Currently, the supply from Africa is very low. Kenya has had heavy rains and now the winter started which has led to disappointing production. In Ethiopia the rainy season is now also in full swing and lasts until September. Additionally, from what is harvested, not everything is exported, because the quality is not good enough," he says.

Rinus calls the quality of the roses that are imported, 'reasonable'. "You often see Botrytis fungus, which you almost can't avoid with that rain."

In Western Europe, the good weather is expected to last for a while. "During the most popular holiday weeks, rose prices are always bad, experience shows. As soon as people return from vacation in August, flowers also return to people's homes. Traditionally, prices will pick up again in the second week of August."

Rinus Bouwman
Bouwman Snijder Importservice
Legmeerdijk 313
1431 GB Aalsmeer
M +31(0)6 51 205 619
T +31(0)297 230 555
F +31(0)297 230 568
E: rinus.bouwman@bsibv.com