The domestic lily fresh-cut flower industry has gradually formed five core production areas represented by Kunming in Yunnan, Lingyuan in Liaoning, Foshan in Guangdong, Yanping in Fujian and Lian Yungang in Jiangsu. In terms of bulb supply, imported bulbs still dominate the market, with the Netherlands being the largest supplier, while countries like New Zealand and Chile also contribute a portion of bulb imports, though their prices are generally higher than those from the Netherlands.
Yang Wenwei, General Manager of Yunnan T-Flor Horticulture Co., Ltd., drawing on years of industry experience, shared that the company can now stably supply a variety of high-quality bulbs, including dahlias, tulips, lilies, and hyacinths.
© Luo (Cathy) Rong | FloralDaily.com
Taking lilies as an example, the fresh-cut lily market experienced a downturn in 2019, but from 2020 to 2024, market demand rebounded significantly, accompanied by a rapid rise in prices. However, persistent heavy rainfall in the Netherlands in 2023 led to a reduction in bulb supply, driving up bulb prices.
Entering 2025, prices across the flower market have generally declined, with roses seeing a particularly sharp drop, and other fresh-cut flowers also affected. Excessive rainfall in Yunnan this year has led to a decline in cut flower quality. Roses are highly susceptible to botrytis, while lilies are more prone to anthracnose. These disease outbreaks have also driven up market prices. The market price of fresh-cut lilies has started to fall, leaving some growers facing losses. To cope with cost pressures, many farmers have chosen not to purchase new bulbs and instead continuing old bulbs for cultivation. Yang Wenwei revealed, "In the first half of this year, our bulb shipments reached approximately 10 million units. If bulb prices remain high, more growers are expected to exit the market." 
© Luo (Cathy) Rong | FloralDaily.com
Meanwhile, the market performance of double-petaled lilies has been more stable, with smaller price fluctuations and strong popularity in e-commerce channels.
Additionally, a fire on a Maersk vessel carrying bulbs this year caused delays in the arrival of Dutch bulbs to China. And two typhoons, "Carya" and "Bolloy," in September also delayed the vessel's berthing time. This may cause them to miss the peak Chinese New Year sales period, further impacting lily market prices. At the same time, the delayed arrival of Dutch bulbs is expected to overlap with the market availability of bulbs from Chile and New Zealand, adding to price uncertainty.
It is worth noting that smaller-sized bulbs in the 4-7cm and 8-10cm ranges have recently shown active market performance, primarily used for propagation.
Despite the current pressures in the flower market, Yang Wenwei remains optimistic about the industry's prospects. He stated, "Although the current market performance is not as strong as desired, we continue to have confidence in the long-term development of the lily industry and are committed to sustained investment."
For more information:
Yunnan T-Flor Horticulture Co., Ltd.
Email: [email protected]
