Main causes include high energy prices, reduced sales of fresh cut flowers and transportation difficulties - The demand does not decrease and, as a result, pric.
David Herbling, Bloomberg News
(Bloomberg)
Kenyan flower growers are grappling with airfreight constraints and virus-control measures, which threaten to wilt sales for Motherâs Day in key European markets.
Weekly freight demand averages 4,200 tons ahead of Mothersâ Day, yet available freight capacity currently is 3,500 tons, according to Clement Tulezi, Kenya Flower Councilâs chief executive officer.
Motherâs Day is Kenyaâs second-highest peak season, accounting for about a quarter of annual sales, the head of the flower growers lobby said Thursday by phone. Valentineâs Day makes up about 40% of annual bloom sales, he said.
âPrices are good. We expect good Motherâs Day sales,â Tulezi said. âHowever, there is reduction of belly space due to fewer passenger flights.â
Kenyan Flower Growers Need Freighters for Valentine’s Day
Bloomberg 2/2/2021 David Herbling
(Bloomberg) Reduced airfreight capacity and lockdowns in key European markets threaten to hurt Kenyan flower sales for Valentine’s Day.
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Kenya’s flower producers are receiving orders for Feb. 14, but freight capacity is “our biggest worry,” Clement Tulezi, chief executive of the Kenya Flower Council, said on Monday. Freight demand typically doubles to 5,500 tons in the week before Valentine’s Day, requiring an additional weekly shipping capacity of 3,000 tons, he said.
The East African nation exports about 70% of its flowers via Amsterdam, and restrictions in the Netherlands and other key export markets, such as the U.K., are likely to hinder sales. Kenya has allowed Ethiopian Airlines to deploy additional freighters on the Nairobi-Amsterdam route to ease capacity constraints, according to Tulezi.