Nordic flower market steadily recovers

Added on 06 March 2022

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Flower and plant sales in the Nordic region - Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden are up, despite concerns of a new wave of Covid-19 infections, according to recent observations made by key players from Scandinavia's ornamental horticulture industry, writes Eugene Gerden in FloraCulture International February 2022.

Denmark

According to Peter Larsen-Ledet, a senior manager of the Danish industry body Floradania Marketing, cut flowers and potted plants in his country are enjoying strong demand as many Danes spend more time at home than travelling abroad.

He says, "Working from home became the norm. Last year in spring, many of us took an interest in decoration, home styling or gardening, and as the summer holidays came up, the habit stuck."

Larsen-Ledet believes that the explosion in demand for ornamentals that occurred last year is an ongoing trend, reinforced by the fact that during the second wave of Covid-19, the Danish government allowed garden centres to stay open during the country's 'lockdown lite'.

Larsen-Ledet adds that in 2021, the production of the nation's flagship ornamentals - primarily (miniature) potted plants is stable, albeit growers are somewhat reluctant to increase product volumes as uncertainty around the pandemic in Europe continues.

Larsen-Ledet says, "However, Denmark is a significant exporter of houseplants, and I believe that our locally grown products have primarily met the increased demand for plants and flowers."

Sweden

In neighbouring Sweden, the pandemic led to a growth of imported flowers, which did not coincide with a decline in local production.

Rolf Persson, President of the Swedish Floriculture Trade Association (Blomsterbranschens Riksorganisation), comments, "Volumes of imported cut flowers grew by five per cent in 2020 and seven per cent in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020.

"Covid-19 caused import trade to fluctuate. In value, imports grew by seven per cent in 2020, although there was a decline in Q1 of 2021."

Persson explains that primarily tulips account for the country's locally grown flower production, with tulips Made in Sweden representing 80 per cent of tulip sales. The importance of tulips for the Swedish flowers sector is reflected by the fact that 30 per cent of annual cut flower consumption in Sweden accounts for Swedish grown tulips.