"Less flowers to Russia due to Chinese Valentine's Day"

The first school day in Russia, September 1st, is one of the most important holidays for Ecuadorian rose growers. The demand for roses was high this year, but as Chinese Valentine's day (August 28) was celebrated in the same week, some farms were limited in supply. "Our offer was not as high as the Russian customers expected because we had to supply the Chinese market, which is becoming increasingly important to us, too", explains Sergio Illescas Jijón, Sales Director of BellaRosa and Rose Connection, two large Ecuadorian rose growers and exporters.

Most demanded flowers
After Valentine’s Day celebrated on February 14, Women's Day (March 8) in Russia, and US Mother's Day in the US, the first school day in Russia is the fourth most important holiday of BellaRosa and Rose Connection. "For this holiday, our rose varieties Explorer, Pink Floyd, Oink Mondial and Mondial are highly demanded", says Jijón.

Lower availability
The demand for roses was high, but the supply from both farms was lower this year because they were shipping flowers for two holidays in the same week; Chinese Valentine's Day and the first school day in Russia. Usually, growers can benefit from both holidays. Chinese Valentine's Day is being celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month in the Chinese calendar and therefore falls on different dates in August. In 2018, for example it is being celebrated on August 17 and in 2019 it is even more spread out as it falls on August 7.

China is growing
Russia is one of BellaRosa's and Rose Connection's main markets, but they see an increasing demand coming from China. "This year, the sales on both farms to the Russian market is close to 30 percent on both farms." This, however, is lower than last year, when about 40 percent of their flowers went to Russia, because of the increasing demand from China. "As long as we can supply the Chinese tinted and fresh roses as they request, we foresee that it will become an important destination for our products." Other important destinations for BellaRosa's and Rose Connection's roses are North America and Europe.

FlowersExpo
Christmas is the next important holiday they are now working on, but before that, they will attend the large flower exhibition FlowersExpo in Moscow. This exhibition will be held from September 12 -14 in the Crocus Expo and BelleRosa and Rose Connection will be both present with a joined booth.

For more information
BellaRosa and Rose Connection
Sergio Illescas Jijón
Email: [email protected]
www.bellarosa.com
www.roseconnection.ec