Kenyan rail transport milestone celebrated by Dutch Flower Group

On the occasion of the State Visit of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima to Kenya, the first trial shipment of flower transport by rail was done in Kenya. This trial shipment is a milestone in the development of the Cool Logistics Corridor in Kenya and shows the potential for the transport of fresh produce to Mombasa port. The Dutch King and Queen visited the Inland Container Depot (ICD) on 19 March, together with Dutch Flower Group (DFG) and the partners involved.

Long history of sea freight experience
Dutch Flower Group is one of the market leaders and frontrunners in shipping flowers by sea freight. Until the disruption of the Red Sea route, DFG shipped 260 sea containers of roses per year to Europe. "By transporting flowers by sea by container, we are able to achieve a reduction of our CO₂-equivalent emissions by 80 to 90% compared to air transport, depending on locations. This trial shipment gives us insight into the potential of rail transport in Kenya as a sustainable and efficient alternative for truck transport to the Mombasa port," says Jan van Dam, CEO of Dutch Flower Group.

Back in 2008 already, DFG companies started to establish a commercial route from Colombia to the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and other destinations. In 2023 the 10,000th container from Colombia arrived in the Netherlands. DFG has also acquired a great deal of expertise in transporting a variety of flowers from Kenya.

The focus on shifting trade of fresh flowers from air- to sea freight and from road- to rail transport aligns with DFG's sustainability strategy IMPACT2030. From DFG's grower Nini, there is a fully conditioned supply chain from the farm to the customer. Nini is a frontrunner in sustainability, continuously focused on improvement and holding certifications like Fairtrade, GlobalG.A.P., MPS, and KFC; fully to the FSI Basket of Standards.

Other highlights during the State Visit
Jan van Dam (DFG CEO) joined the CEO Round Table, in which Dutch companies entered in talks with Kenyan government representatives in order to discuss trade and investment opportunities.

During the State Visit, a Trade Mission with Dutch companies visited DFG's Packed At Source Africa (PASA) site. This bouquet-producing facility opened in January 2024. At this new, strategically located location in Kenya, bouquets are composed directly from the Kenyan growers, and shipped to Europe.

Partners of the trial shipment
The trial shipment is the result of a collaboration between different parties in Kenya and the Netherlands as Nini (grower), Dutch Flower Group, Maersk, Flying Swans, Kenya Railways Corporation, and Kenya Ports Authority. The container departed from the Naivasha Inland Container Depot, successfully arrived the same day in Mombasa port, and is destined to arrive in the Port of Rotterdam.

For more information:
Dutch Flower Group
info@dfg.nl
https://dfg.nl/en/