Flower exports recovering in Netherlands

The coronavirus crisis was bad for the Dutch flower sector, with exports dropping 32 percent in March, and 38 percent in April. But the situation blossomed in May, which registered just a mere 8 percent drop in flower exports compared to May 2019 and a rise in plant exports.

According to ABN Amro, the large increase in online sales at home and abroad was worse during the lockout. In the Netherlands, online flower sales rose 160 percent in March. Much more was also ordered online in April and May.

During the lockdown, export losses came to €500m, with many companies forced to destroy their crops. Exports to hard-hit Italy fell the most, by 70 percent.