More Ethiopian roses imported

In the first three quarters of 2008, approximately 2.7 billion roses were imported into the Netherlands, an increase by 6 percent relative to the same period in 2007. More than 95 percent of all roses were imported from Africa, mainly from Kenya. Ethiopian roses are becoming increasingly popular.

Imports of roses into the Netherlands

More than 95 percent of roses imported from Africa

More than 95 percent of roses imported into the Netherlands were grown in Africa. It concerned 2.6 billion roses in the first nine months of 2008. Kenya is still the main supplier, accounting for more than half of roses grown in Africa. Altogether, nearly 40 percent came from Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania.

Nearly 50 percent increase in roses imported from Ethiopia

Roses grown in Ethiopia are becoming increasingly popular in the Netherlands. In the first three quarters of 2008, some 440 million roses were imported from Ethiopia, i.e. 50 percent more than in the same period in 2007 and more than over the entire year 2007, when 415 million roses were imported from Ethiopia. The Ethiopian share currently amounts to 16 percent, as against a mere 0.5 percent half a decade ago.

Share African countries in Dutch import of roses

Exports mainly to European Union

In the period January-September of last year, 1.7 billion roses ((87 percent of total rose exports) were exported from the Netherlands to other EU countries; 36 percent ((720 million roses) went to Germany. A large proportion of roses imported into the Netherlands are re-exported through Dutch flower auctions.

Number of Dutch rose growers down by one quarter

In the period 2006-2008, the number of holdings in the Netherlands, where roses are grown was reduced by more than a quarter from 425 to 310. The rose culture area was also substantially reduced from 754 ha 2006 to 583 ha in 2008. This means that the average area per holding has increased. In 2006, the average holding covered 1.8 ha, as against 1.9 ha in 2008.

Wiel Packbier