The total increase in export of plants and flowers from the Netherlands has dropped to over 5% and reaches 5.1 billion. This is despite a small increase of 2% in October. Growth and decline percentages per country seem to be increasing, suggest the VGB and Floridata.
After a flying start to the flower and plant export at the start of this year, the growth has been levelling out. "The 5% plus annually is still a great achievement for the Dutch import and export trade. The domestic wholesale is also doing well," says VGB director Matthijs Mesken.
Flowers (+6%) have a head start over plants (+4%), but plants grew more quickly in October. "This was also the case in March and June, but it's still too soon to talk about breaking trend," says Wesley van den Berg of Floridata. Up to and including October the flower export grew to € 3.2 billion and the plant turnover grew to € 1.9 billion. In the last month the top three countries, Germany, England and France all handed in their figures. Only England is structurally behind.
Fluctuations
The decrease in value of the British pound since Brexit was announced has caused the export value towards England to decrease. Up to October the set back is 6% on a turnover of € 714 million. "The competition in England has also increased strongly," is the experience of Hans Langeveld of Heemskerk Flowers. The lower exchange rate for the dollar is placing pressure on the export to America, which meant that Dutch exporters left this market over the last five months. "The role of the Netherlands on this market is supplementary," reports director Burt Groeneveld of Tuning Flower Export. He further points to the effect of the higher purchasing value of flowers. "The transport costs in particular have gone up as well. Phytosanitary demand from many countries are having a restrictive effect on the export," he indicates.
After the first signs of recovery at the end of last year, the flower and plant export from the Netherlands to Russia has been strong this year. The monthly growth figures are between 31% and 55% and the more stable relationship between the Euro and the rouble play an important role in this.
The decline in certain countries stands out among the high growth figures. The largest decline is seen in the Danish sales market for potted and garden plants with a decrease of 12%, Floridata statistics show. Denmark is the eleventh export destination for Dutch flower and plant exports and on a total level this market shrank by 8% this year to € 95 million. Sweden is also behind (-1% to € 147 million) and is the second declining market in the top 10 sales destinations after England. Norway, 15th sales market, grew strongly in October and shows a growth of 4% to € 55 million this year. Number 16 Finland bought almost 10% more flowers and plants from the Netherlands and will be closer to Norway this year at € 52 million.
source: VGB / Floridata
source: VGB / Floridata