The flower and plant sector will end 2020 with exports of 435 million euros

It remains at the same level as the previous year

A year is coming to a close in which the producing and exporting sector of flowers and live plants has been one of the most affected by COVID-19.

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The tightening in many countries of Europe Plans restrictive measures due to COVID during December, among which are two of the first destinations in the Spanish export of flowers and live plants: Germany and the Netherlands, that all garden and DIY centers have closed until at least half of next January, will cause a new drop in exports this month, which will join the one suffered in March and April, maintaining the Spanish export of flowers and plants in 2020 at the same level as the previous year, with a value of 435 million euros according to estimates by FEPEX.

 

It closes a year in which the producing and exporting sector of flowers and live plants has been one of the most affected by the COVID-19, since during the confinement there was a collapse in consumption, with the total closure of points of sale as it was not considered an essential sector. Exports also fell in March, with 23% less than in the same month of the previous year and in April, with 22% less, recovering later, while in December they will fall sharply again due to the new restrictions in Europe.

 

At the national level, the export-producing sector grouped in the FEPEX Flower and Plant Committee faces the year 2021 with deep concern caused by a drastic decrease in sales to gardening, public works and landscape restoration companies, but also with the hope that the Government will incorporate the sector into aid for the first time. the CAP.

 

La serious crisis suffered by the sector during 2020 has highlighted some of the main weaknesses, being a priority in the field of production and marketing to address the lack of organization, investment needs, as well as the promotion of consumption taking into account the changes that are taking place in consumer habits and the replacement of traditional distribution channels.

 

Furthermore, it is essential to improve the positioning of Spanish companies in international distribution chains, with a broader range of products that allows the origin and quality of Spanish products to be identified with a quality counter-brand such as “Flowers and Plants of Spain”. in the international market, as well as the positioning of flowers and plants as essential products in garden centers and on the shelves of national distribution chains.

 

In order for the sector to overcome the aforementioned difficulties and develop the existing advantages, the FEPEX Flower and Plant Committee considers that it is necessary to correct the existing competitive disadvantages in relation to other community producers. For this reason, it has been requested Department of agriculture the inclusion of the flower and plant sector in the Strategic Plan of the future CAP in order to establish the types of interventions in this sector, which are broadly similar to those of the fruit and vegetable sector.

 

The FEPEX Flowers and Plants Committee is made up of the Andalusian Association of Nurseries and Floriculturists, Asociaflor, the Professional Association of Flowers and Plants of the Valencian Community; the Association of Organizations of Fruit and Vegetable Producers of Almería, Coexphal, the Federation of Farmers and Nurseries of Catalonia, the Horticulture Association of Aragon, Rioja and Navarra, the Association of Nursery Businessmen of Galicia, Asvinor, the Association of Harvesters and Exporters of Flowers and Live Plants from the Canary Islands, Asocan and the Spanish Association of Garden Centers.