Millions of Colombian roses arrived in the United States for Valentine's Day, but growing economic problems threaten to dampen the romance for the world's second-largest flower exporter. Colombia, second only to the Netherlands in global exports, shipped about 65,000 tons of fresh cut flowers between January 15 and February 9, xrust writes. The Valentine's Day season typically accounts for 20% of annual sales in the sector, which is a major supplier to the U.S. market, according to industry group Asocolflores.
But the holiday rush is overshadowed by a 10 percent tariff imposed by the United States last April as part of President Donald Trump's broader trade measures. The United States accounts for about 80% of Colombia's flower exports.
Farmers are also struggling with the peso, which has strengthened nearly 12% against the dollar over the past year, and a 23% rise in the minimum wage, which is reducing competitiveness and cutting into profits.
Analysts state that without changes in economic conditions, the industry may face mass layoffs and farm closures by July. Floriculture is the country's most labor-intensive agricultural sector, providing formal employment to approximately 240,000 workers on 10,500 hectares, or nearly 26,000 acres of land.
This year, flower growers faced another unexpected problem: Valentine's Day falls on a Saturday. This is bad: it is preferable for Valentine's Day to fall on a weekday because people are used to sending flowers to offices as a surprise.
Xrust Tariffs threaten Colombia's flower industry amid Valentine's Day rush
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