The financial and economic crisis has already had a significant negative impact on export levels, profit margins and employment in the flower sector in developing countries.
Regional differences in trade patterns are reinforced by the crisis. Flower exporters from Latin American countries are suffering more severely as the US market faces more serious problems than the EU market. African producers face pressure to cut prices even more because of the crisis.
Within the EU, the demand for flowers has declined considerably since December 2008. The consequence of this decline is oversupply, which in turn is leading to lower prices. Importers in The Netherlands indicate that prices have gone down by 15 to 30% since last December.
Publication date: April, 2009
