Colombia: Record Valentine's Day flower exports

2016 marked another record year for bilateral trade between Colombia and the US in the area of flower exports. Over half a billion flowers were shipped to North America from Colombia for the Valentine’s day holiday, last Sunday.

According to ProColombia, Colombia’s export promotion agency, in 2015, Colombia exported approximately $1 Billion USD in flowers to the US, where 12% of sales were driven by Valentine’s Day. In 2016 sales are expected to be spurred by Colombia’s weak currency, making exports from the country up to 39% less expensive. Over the last 4 years, the flower export trade has shown a steady 4% growth.

According to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) over 26,000 floral retailers and wholesalers in the United States source 60% of their products from Colombia.

Over 80% of Colombia’s flower exports are purchased by the United States. Other major markets are Japan, Russia, US, and Canada. According to Colombia’s flagship airline, Avianca, it handled Valentine’s Day flower shipments on 155 flights, including charters to Los Angeles and Puerto Rico. Shipments on regularly scheduled flights went to destinations including the Netherlands, Spain, Great Britain, China, Toronto, Aruba, Curaçao, San Salvador, Amsterdam, Madrid, Barcelona, London, Seoul, Peking, Taiwan, Shanghai and Brisbane.

Read more at Finance Colombia