Although Ecuador has had a good year overall so far, the floral sector has faced persistent product shortages during the Mother's Day sales season, explains Boris Mantilla of SoBella, an Ecuadorian flower export company. "The primary cause has been the weather: a lack of sunlight and extreme events, such as the hailstorm that, just before the season began, destroyed a significant portion of crops in Cayambe and Tabacundo. This not only reduced the availability of flowers but also impacted the profitability of many farms."
Boris Mantilla at the IFTF 2023.
Cancellations due to quality issues
While some farms managed to overcome climatic challenges, the lack of sunlight and the proliferation of pests prevented flowers from reaching their full quality, he explains. "As a result, the market suffered. Fixed orders could not be fulfilled completely and open market could not be covered by at least 50%. The most affected were clients who did not anticipate demand with pre-season purchases, and distributors who struggled to secure enough flowers to meet their customers' needs. Additionally, the producer's side cancellations have been frequent for similar reasons."
It has also been a challenging season for SoBella, which sources over 40 varieties of flowers, including tinted, preserved, and painted blooms, from 150 farms across Ecuador (and some from Colombia). "Each peak season brings additional challenges due to the high sales volume, and this year was no exception. We observed that some small farms failed to maintain quality standards due to the same issues mentioned earlier, leading us to reject some boxes to prevent complaints and minimize transportation or incineration costs."
© SoBella
The shareholders of SoBella. From left to right: Boris Mantilla, Alberto Batallas, his wife María del Cármen Miño, Gonzalo Luzuriaga.
Technology, team expansion support stability
Despite the challenges, SoBella reports a cautiously optimistic outlook for the rest of the year. Investments in technology and a strengthened sales team helped the company optimize operations during the first months of 2025. "While not all players in the sector will see growth, larger companies have made significant strides in the market, and demand during the first weeks of May has remained strong due to the spring boom in the Northern Hemisphere."
© SoBella
On the left: New code of spray garden like roses from NIRP. On the right: SoBella shipments
Logistics keep the industry moving
On a positive note, according to Mantilla, logistics have been efficient. "Despite customs congestion and delivery coordination challenges, freight companies have reached optimal levels of efficiency. This year, they have managed to reduce cargo handling setbacks to virtually zero."
© SoBella
SoBella packaging
Looking ahead
Looking ahead, expectations are clear: stable weather and new plantings will be essential to improving flower availability in the coming season.
For more information
SoBella Flowers
Boris Mantilla
Email: [email protected]
www.sobella.ec
