Flower Exports Fall 12%, Sh1.4 Billion Lost on Freight Bottlenecks — AFA
By Chemtai Kirui, NAIROBI, KENYA,
Flower exports fell by 12 percent in 2024, wiping out about Sh1.4 billion in earnings, according to new data from the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA).
The regulator reported that export volumes dropped to about 102,500 tonnes in 2024 from 116,273 tonnes in 2023.
Export earnings slid to Sh72.1 billion, down from Sh73.5 billion the previous year.
AFA linked the decline to persistent freight bottlenecks at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and stricter phytosanitary checks in Europe, which absorbs most of Kenya’s flowers.
“The reduction in available cargo space has created bottlenecks in moving fresh produce, especially flowers, to Europe,” the agency said in its performance report. “This has led to lower volumes reaching the market on time.”
The country remains one of the world’s top flower exporters, with the sector contributing more than half of horticultural export earnings.
Roses account for the majority of shipments, mainly destined for the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and France.
Exporters say freight shortages have pushed up costs and delayed deliveries, eroding the sector’s competitiveness. On top of that, tighter European Union plant health inspections have in some cases led to rejected consignments.
Industry players are urging urgent interventions, including investments in sea freight for less time-sensitive consignments, expanding JKIA’s cargo handling capacity, and strengthening compliance with international phytosanitary standards.
While sea freight is slower, exporters argue it could provide long-term cost relief and reliability if backed by stronger cold chain infrastructure.
The performance report comes as growers gear up for peak export months in late 2025, when demand from Europe and Asia typically rises.
The sector’s recovery, stakeholders say, will depend on how quickly freight constraints are resolved.
Fact Box
Kenya exports flowers to more than 60 countries and is ranked the fourth-largest cut flower exporter globally.
