The local flower market in the Gulf region is characterized by a growth rate higher than the global average, especially with the expansion of e-commerce in flowers and the ease of finding the personal taste that the customer prefers from roses and the speed of receiving them on the same day.
In this article, we shed light on the features of the flower trade in Saudi Arabia, and the extent to which the local and global market promises to prosper in the coming years.
Saudi Flower Souk Overview
Flower farms in Saudi Arabia produce 41 types of roses and flowers, and the flowers are planted inside greenhouses to get the best production, and after picking, they are quickly sorted, packaged and shipped by plane via air freight, so that their age from harvesting until reaching the flower shops does not exceed 42 hours at most.
On top of the species produced by Saudi Arabia: carnations, chrysanthemums, lilies and iris, in addition to roses, baladi and sectarian, ornamental plants, aromatic plants, catnip, wormwood, sage and thyme.
The Saudi market represents the largest market for roses in the region, accounting for 50% of the GDP of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and constitutes the most growing sector compared to the rest of the GCC countries, and the size of the flower trade market in Saudi Arabia exceeds 200 million riyals annually, which indicates the great demand that roses enjoy as an essential and indispensable addition to many occasions such as weddings and holidays.
Saudi flowers are not consumed at home, but nearly a quarter of the annual production is exported abroad, especially European countries such as Germany, the Czech Republic, Cyprus and the Netherlands, in addition to Arab markets such as the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, Kuwait and Jordan, in addition to Asia and Latin American countries.
The flower trade in Saudi Arabia is not limited to exporting abroad only, but the Kingdom imports products from 16 of the leading countries in the export of flowers in the world, such as Ecuador, the Netherlands, Italy, Ethiopia, Kenya, New Zealand, Cambodia, Colombia, France and the United States, in addition to East Asian countries such as China, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka, and Arab countries such as Egypt and Lebanon.
Recent statistics indicate the growth of the country’s exports of roses and the decline in imports, over the course of 6 months, the Kingdom’s exports of natural and industrial flowers and roses increased by 19.6% compared to the same period of the previous year, while the Kingdom’s imports of natural and industrial flowers and roses decreased during the same period by 22.5% compared to the previous year.
What is the future of the flower trade in Saudi Arabia?
The flower trade in Saudi Arabia is moving to growth driven by three factors, the first is gifting, as the exchange of gifts is a social phenomenon in Saudi society, the second catalyst is occasions, as roses represent a constant addition that gives a special elegance to weddings and gatherings of all kinds, and the third catalyst, which promises huge growth potential, is personal acquisition, such as buying flowers for living rooms and the office and renewing them weekly, and personal acquisition is gaining a great driving force for the growth of the flower trade in light of the growing awareness of the role of home decoration. With flowers to spread a positive atmosphere and impart a spirit of joy and optimism.
As for future expectations, they indicate that the production of flowers and roses will double in the coming years in light of the increasing interest in flower fields and the cultivation of new varieties and types, and this prosperity is helped, the Saudi atmosphere is characterized by the diversity of weather and terrain, which was reflected in the diversity of production, and the warm weather of the country helped to continue the planting season throughout the year.
Astra Farms: a leading example in the flower trade
One of the most prominent examples in the Kingdom in the flower trade is Astra Farms in Tabuk, which is the largest flower producer in the Arab region and the oldest farms in the country, dating back to 40 years ago, with a total area of 160,000 square meters, and a total production yield of 55 million flowers, and among the most prominent types produced by roses, cloves, gladiolus and gypsophila.
What are the trends affecting the flower trade in Saudi Arabia?
The pandemic gave a strong impetus to e-commerce in many sectors, including the flower sector, as it went through a digital boom after traditional stores dominated the buying and selling movement to a large extent in this traditional trade. These stores are still prevalent in the market today, but e-commerce is slowly penetrating into this world.
As it has become common to sell flowers online, in attractive formats, and countless types, the customer is not looking for a specific brand, but rather cares about the quality of the flower and the ease of delivery and obtaining it on the same day, and the great diversity in the available local production and the ease of importing roses from abroad have helped in the multiplicity of options and thus increase customers’ knowledge of the different types of flowers and enable them to choose better and more consciously, which contributed to increasing the demand for purchases, especially since Merchants have the opportunity to access a wider range of products from around the world and import them via express air freight.
Flowers are often sold based on their color, but the customer is also interested in knowing specifications such as the length of the flower neck and the size of its head before making a purchase decision, and flower lovers have recently increased awareness of buying based on certain specifications in their imagination, a specific shape and a specific type they desire. As for prices, the sale prices of flowers vary from one flower to another, and depend on various factors such as the quality of production, the harvest season in summer or winter, the increase in demand, and the size of competition with other traders.
Finally, the flower trade requires good knowledge and experience in shipping and delivery operations, whether in import or export, in addition to customs clearance Since flowers are perishable, you can use the services of the border support company for customs clearance, in order to ensure that your flower goods are seamless shipping and receiving without delay.
