Colombia, a world leader in flower exports

June 30, 2023

Colombia is consolidating its position as one of the leaders in flower exports globally. This product has been one of the winners of the FTA with the United States, despite the growing trade deficit with that country.

rose growing, rose greenhouse, greenhouse, roses for export, Más Colombia

In the world, billions of pesos are involved in the production and export of flowers. These are marketed for industrial, medical and ornamental uses, although the greatest demand is associated with the latter. Whether to decorate a space or as part of a romantic gesture, Colombian flowers have great recognition globally.

Unlike other products that were hit by the pandemic, interest in flowers has been steady, and flower exports have been growing stronger. This has even been one of the products that have been able to benefit from the Free Trade Agreements, in spite Colombia’s growing trade deficit.

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Colombia is one of the leaders in flower exports

Colombia is consolidating its position as one of the main flower exporters. In the last five years, from 2018 to 2022, it has been the second country in order of importance in the flower exports globally, as evidenced by World Bank data.

In the world flower trade, Colombia is only surpassed by the Netherlands, although the difference is significant. For example, in 2021 the exports of the European country in this line were 3.3 times the exports of Colombia. The Netherlands exported 5.7 billion dollars in flowers and Colombia exported 1.7 billion dollars, according to the statistical portal Statista.

This gap has been widening, as in 2018, flower exports from the Netherlands were 2.8 times those of Colombia. That year the European country exported US$4 billion, while flower exports from Colombia reached US$1.4 billion, according to World Bank figures.

Just as the main exporter is ahead of us, Colombian flower exports are much higher than those of its next competitors. In 2021, Colombian flower exports exceeded those of Ecuador by 85% and more than doubled those of Kenya, its direct competitors in positions 3 and 4 of the ranking, respectively, as can be calculated from Statista data. Ecuador exported US$920 million and Kenya US$725 million, compared to Colombia’s US$1.7 billion.

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In addition to consolidating its position as one of the top two countries in flower exports worldwide, Colombia has been steadily increasing annual sales. From the $1.4 billion it exported in 2018, it went on to sell $2 billion in 2022, according to DANE estimates.

A product that has profited from the FTA with the U.S.

Flowers can be considered a success story in the context of the FTA with the United States. In the last 11 years, coinciding with the implementation of the FTA, 78.8% of Colombian flowers were sold in U.S. markets, 11% in Europe, and 5% in Asia (DANE).

The increase in agribusiness exports to the United States after the FTA is largely due to flowers, which occupy fourth place in exports after oil, gold, and coffee, with a contribution of 7.5%. Flower sales grew above other sectors, rising from US$514 million (95,000 tons), in 2012, to US$1.6 billion (241,100 tons) in 2022, according to DANE. In total, 1.8 million tons of flowers have been exported under the FTA with the United States, from January 2012 to May 2023, at an average value of US$5,800. DANE figures also show that average exports per company/exporter increased from US$1.4 million to US$3.6 million since the FTA came into force, with average prices per transaction of US$118.