The Netherlands exported flowers and plants to the value of €7.2 billion last year, up 2% on 2024 and close to 2021’s record sales, according to wholesalers association VGB.

The export of plants was up 4.4% to €2.8 billion while cut flower sales were up just 0.3% at €4.4 billion. In volume terms cut flower sales were down 3%.

Germany remains the biggest market at almost 25% of total sales, although exports were down 0.6%. Exports to Britain, the second biggest market, fell 0.4%.

Sales to Poland and the US rose the most, by 12% and 10% respectively. The increase in sales to the US stems from the first months of last year, and most US sales were realised before the introduction of tariffs, VGB director Matthijs Mesken said.

“There was a contraction in the last months of the year,” he said. “And the new tariffs Trump has announced are likely to mean a continued negative development.”