Kenyan Floriculture Industry excited about the US flower market

With the highly anticipated direct flights from Nairobi to New York set to commence this October, the Kenyan market projects an increase of over 90 million USD in earnings from the US flower market. According to the CEO of the Kenya Flower Council Clement Tulezi, Kenya currently earns less than 8.4 million euros from flower exports to the US. 

Earnings from the Horticulture sector hit Sh115 billion last year from Sh101 billion announced in 2016. Companies licensed to export the flowers also increased to 386 from 356 in 2016.

The total export volumes increased by 26,303 tons to159,961 tons in the said period while the value rose to 82.25 billion from 70.8 billion.

“We also expect that the direct flights would increase our Share of the US market from the current 0.4 per cent to 10 per cent,” Tulezi said.

Outgoing head of the horticulture directorate Zakayo Magara said in a separate interview that the flight will open up the flower sector to a market of over 1 billion people. According to organisers of the forthcoming IFTEX flower show set to be held from 6th to 8th June, at least 10 big buyers from the US are expected to attend. 

additional info courtesy - The Star