Export of flowers and ornamental plants grows 90% in Ceará

Leading the export market for flowers and ornamental plants, Ceará state has expanded its shipments of flowers by 90% in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year.

This surge has led the Ceará government to anticipate that international transactions will surpass the $1 million export mark and reach $1.2 million. In 2022, the amount reached $940.5 thousand, representing a 44% increase compared to 2021.

Among the reasons driving optimism in the export sector of flowers is the recent enactment of the National Policy for the Promotion of Quality Flowers and Ornamental Plants by the Federal Government.

This policy aims to promote production in the country and facilitate domestic and international trade.

One of the key principles of the new national policy is seen as crucial for driving the development of the industry: ensuring economic and socio-environmental sustainability through productive credit, agricultural research, technological development, and technical assistance.

In Ceará, the market’s momentum is rooted in the production hub in the Serra da Ibiapaba, which is driving the floriculture sector in the region. It also includes a business located in Paracuru, which is the country’s main exporter of ornamental plants.

Silvio Carlos Ribeiro, the Executive Secretary of Agribusiness at the Ceará State Department of Economic Development (Sedet-CE), highlights that Ibiapaba has been transformed through the sector’s efforts and has now become a significant hub for cut flower production.

Regarding ornamental plants, he comments that the state has significant potential due to its diverse flora. “In fact, we have two of Brazil’s largest exporters of ornamental plants.”

Silvio believes that Ceará, already standing out in the Northeast market, can further develop its supply chain by involving new producers and supporting smaller ones.

“There is a tendency for growth with this law, as it establishes a series of actions to stimulate the production of flowers and ornamental plants, ranging from research to credit. What we think is that we will have several tools to help this sector grow, both in production and in exports,” he points out.

Current Landscape of the Flowers and Ornamental Plants Sector in Brazil

The circumstances for the various areas of this industry differ. While the flower industry was severely damaged by the pandemic, with decreased demand owing to event cancellations, demand for decorative plants has increased.

This shift occurred because ornamental plants have become decorative elements for various spaces in homes, attracting new markets. Presently, the United States and European countries import a portion of Ceará’s production, securing the state’s national leadership in exports within this segment.

The chart below displays Brazil’s exports of live plants and flowers (hs code 06), measured in TEUs, between Jan 2019 and Jun 2023. The data found below was gathered by the Datamar B.I. department.

Live plants and flowers | Jan 2019 – Jun 2023 | TEU

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Products such as the Snake Plant (Sansevieria) and “Mandacaru,” a thornless cactus native to the Northeast, are popular among ornamental plants.

Source: O Povo

To read the original text, please see: https://mais.opovo.com.br/jornal/economia/2023/08/28/exportacao-de-flores-e-plantas-ornamentais-cresce-90-no-ceara.html

Sharing is caring!