Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
With the arrival of spring, the flower bulb trade is booming. Rising temperatures and longer days are bringing renewed interest from florists, retailers, and consumers, fueling the export market.
In 2024, the European Union exported €98.9 million worth of orchid, lily, daffodil, and tulip bulbs, both in the growing and flowering stages, while imports did not exceed €4.7 million. According to figures released by the European Statistical Office in Brussels on Friday morning, the Netherlands remains the leading exporter of orchid, lily, daffodil, and tulip bulbs to the EU, with exports amounting to €82 million, representing 83% of total exports. Other major exporting countries accounted for less than 10% of the total: Poland (9%), Belgium (4%), Germany (1%), and Denmark (1%).
Data indicate that Switzerland was the EU's main partner, importing €39.4 million worth of these products (40% of the total). Other major importers included the United Kingdom (15%), Norway (10%), Kyrgyzstan (7%), and Ukraine (6%). The EU also exported €30.1 million worth of bulbs, tubers, tuberous roots, vines, crowns, and other root plants, in growth or flowering, with the Netherlands leading the list of major exporters in this category (€17.9 million; 59% of the total).