From the Newsroom
São Paulo – Confirming analysis and sector forecasts in recent months, Brazil has closed the year showing 30.2% export growth over the results for flower and ornamental plant export in 2002.
The annual aggregate result was export of US$ 19.4 million, consolidated due to excellent foreign trade performances in December 2003. In that month, export totalled US$ 1.96 million, a volume 39.05% greater than that ed in December of the previous year.
As had already been signalled during the second half of 2003, Brazilian flower culture confirmed its historic record participation on the foreign market, showing sustained growth.
The sector with greatest expansion was once again, as in other years, the ornamental plant sector, with accumulated sales of US$ 9.65 million and growth of 18.10% over 2002. Holland remains the main destination for these products, absorbing 49.25% of Brazilian foreign sales.
Dutch participation on the Brazilian sapling and ornamental plant export market rose, showing expansion of 26.3% over the 2002 result. Other important destinations included Italy (19.5% participation), USA (8.6%), Japan (8.5%), United Kingdom and Denmark (4.1% each), apart from 11 other countries.
In 2003, the sector of saplings and ornamental plants for export felt great expansion in sales not only to Holland, but also to markets like the US (90.5%), Denmark (29.3%) and (28.2%). It also returned to trading with former buyers such as Canada and Argentina, as well as trading with new customers such as , Colombia, Chile, and China.
The state of São Paulo was the main producer of saplings and ornamental plants, answering to around 79% of international revenues. The main destination for Paulista (from the state of São Paulo) saplings was Holland (62.4%), followed by the US (10.8%), Japan (10.7%), United Kingdom (5.2%), Denmark (5.1%) and another five countries.
The southeastern state of Minas Gerais had the second position, answering to 2.3% of sector export. Minas Gerais produce went almost exclusively to (98.8%). Export by the southeastern state of Rio de Janeiro, and the southern states of Paraná and Santa Catarina, although present, were not very expressive (less than 1% of the total, for each state).
The second most traded product on the international flower and ornamental market was bulbs, tubers, rhizomes, and other material at rest for plant generation. Throughout 2003, the sector has accumulated sales of US$ 4.6 million, representing a 16% expansion over the previous year results.
In this case, the main destination for Brazilian products was Holland, 88.2% of total export, followed by the United States (7.3%), Mexico (3.2%) and others. In 2003, the Dutch market growth for Brazilian bulbs was of around 15.2%, while the North American market rose 66.5%, and the Chilean 94%.
States participating in export were São Paulo, with 97.5% of total sales, followed by the northeastern state of Ceará that, in 2003, after company Terra Viva started operating in that state, accumulated global sales of US$ 115,000 in the sector of bulbs and rhizomes. The destinations for the northeastern state products are: Holland (93.4%) and the US (6.6%).
The Brazilian cut flowers represented the group of products that had the best export performance in the year. With global sales results of US$ 2.6 million, the sector rose 116% in comparison to 2002.
Such a fact is mainly due to the good performance of cut flowers on the United States market, which rose from a global value of US$ 633,000, in 2002, to close to US$ 1.9 million in 2003.
Other countries responsible for the excellent result were Holland (with a 250% growth over the results the previous year), Argentina that is recovering from a recession, and new clients like Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland.
