Italy managed 5% floriculture shipment increments between January and September 2024, ahead of Trump’s 10% universal tariffs.
While tariffs could impact the country’s fifth biggest flower market, the United States, in Europe trade remains shipshape.
Regional sales aided Italy’s flower sector maintain the second export value position in Europe, after the Netherlands.
According to an Il Messaggero report, France led Italy’s January-September 2024 floral purchases at 198.6 million euro ($223.4 million). The orders insured a positive national export-import balance of 390.5 million euro ($439.2 million).
Flower imports by Italy in 2024 meanwhile grew by a massive 31.4%, to 618.5 million euro ($695.6 million), albeit below 2023’s 20.3%.
This slight import decline favored exports, which amassed 1.2 billion euro ($1.35 billion) in the first nine months of 2024.
Spurring the revenue were purchases from France and regional non-EU countries such as Switzerland and the UK.
Switzerland bought 50.4 million-euro ($56.7 million) worth of flowers from Italy while the UK ordered 37.3 million-euro ($41.9 million).
In the Made-in-Italy niche exports, cut flowers led at 95.1 million euro ($102.9 million). Seedlings/cuttings followed at 41.2 million euro ($46.3 million), ahead of potted flora at 35.6 million euro ($40.1 million).
Exports represent a third of Italy’s floriculture market value, whose 2024 value was 3.25 billion euro ($3.66 billion).
Some of this value owes to steady current prices of flowers in Italy, which helped generate 3.5% annual value growth in 2024.
The improvement cut across the entire national agricultural sector, whose value added growth was top in the European Union for 2024.
U.S.’ Tariffs
Further afield, traditional customers of Italy’s blooms in the United States are circumspect that tariffs could raise prices.
The clientele includes Rebecca Kutzer-Rice, a New Jersey florist, who told CBS on May 6 that her business is not immune.
She imports some of her bulbs from Italy, and the latest shipment had to cope with the new 10% duty.
She estimates this could cost up to $50,000 annually, equal to the yearly dues of a single employee.
Exports of flowers by Italy in 2024 therefore bloomed mainly because of a lucrative Europe-based market. As the next statistics illustrate, flowers remain a major trade specialty for the Mediterranean country.
Italy Floriculture Statistics
Italy is one of the biggest producers and exporters of cut flowers and potted flowers, worldwide. It ranks 8th in global exports with 1% share, behind Kenya’s 7% and the leader the Netherlands’ 52%, among others.
Which are the top destinations of Italy’s cut flowers and related?
In 2023, the Netherlands was the main flower destination for Italy, absorbing 37% export share, worth $54 million. France came second at $25 million or 17.1% of export share. By quarter 3, 2024, however, France was in the lead, followed by Switzerland and the UK.
Which non-EU country buys most of Italy’s floriculture?
The United States is the only country in the top 10 of Italy’s cut flower markets outside Europe. As the fifth biggest destination, it imported $4.9 million or 3.35% of all flower or bouquet shipments from Italy in 2023.
Does Italy import flowers?
Italy also imports flowers, which were worth $261 million in 2023. The biggest source in 2023 was the Netherlands, which supplied 92% of all foreign orders, worth $240 million. The rest came from Thailand (2.33% share) and France (1.51%). Other minor sources were Colombia, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Germany, Spain, Kenya and Austria.
Where do flowers grow in Italy?
According to Floral Daily, Northwest Italy produces around 39% of commercial flowers while the south and island provinces supply 35%. Tuscany in the west-central region is among the leading national sources. Campagnia, on the other hand, leads top southern supplies.