Translate

Search This Blog

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Colombia exported 500 million flowers


The president of the Colombian Association of Flower Exporters (Asocolflores) , Augusto Solano, said the sales campaign on the occasion of Valentine's Day accounts for 12% of industry salesSolano said that of all flowers grown in Colombia, 97% goes to export and the main recipients are the United States (76%), Russia (5%), Japan (4%) and England (3 percent ). That strong presence in the markets has been affected, however, by the "loss of competitiveness" due to the appreciation of the Colombian peso, in the last decade, has fluctuated from 3,000 pesos to the dollar at the current 1776. "We are at levels similar rate to twelve years ago, while inflation has risen between 1999 and 2012 by 96%, affecting the production costs of the industry, "said SolanoMoreover, "unlike other products, flowers could hardly raise international prices due to pressure from other competing countries and the apparent decline in demand by the crisis in the U.S. and Europe, "said the owner of Asocolflores. This situation, which directly affects all exports that depend on exchange rates, has resulted in the floriculture sector in the loss of 30,000 jobs over the past five years,said Solano. But still, with a share of 8% in the agricultural sector, the union estimates that Colombia has consolidated in recent decades as the second largest exporter of flowers with a global presence in the market 16% overall, second only to Holland . Valentine's campaign will conclude on February 14 with the celebration of Valentine's Day.

No comments:

Post a Comment