Date: Friday, November 13, 2009
Categories: Market research, Requirements
The EU market is the largest consumer and importer of timber and timber products in the world. On a country level, however, a different picture exists: global imports are led by the USA; Japan is also a major importer, but its role in the global timber trade is declining; China, on the other hand, becomes an important player in the timber market. The latter mainly imports raw materials and exports finished timber products. In doing so, China takes the lead in the global furniture trade, hereby strongly affecting the market share of traditional low-cost furniture exporters, such as Malaysia and Indonesia.
The EU construction sector is the most important market sector for timber and timber products and uses up to 70% of all timber consumed in the EU, followed by the further-processing industry (most notably the furniture industry). The DIY market segment is of less importance, although its market share in sales of timber and timber products is steadily increasing. Read more »
Date: Friday, November 6, 2009
Categories: Market research, ProVerde projects
WAFEX is the leading exporter of cut flowers (fresh and dried) in Australia with warehouse, packing and cool room facilities in both Melbourne and Perth. In 2009, seeing an opportunity to become the world’s leading source of new waxflower (Chamelaucium) varieties, Craig Musson and Adrian Parsons, Directors of WAFEX, established their new company Helix Australia. Having secured a range of new and improved Waxflower varieties, Helix Australia is developing networks of licensed growers locally and overseas in both the cut flower and nursery industries. Read more »
Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Categories: Fruit & vegetables, Market research
The EU market for fresh fruit and vegetables is declining in volume but growing in value. In much of the eastern European Union consumption is still growing and consumers are shifting from basic fruit and vegetables towards more diverse produce, including exotics. At the same time, the availability there of other food products, such as snacks and fast food, is a source of heated competition for fresh fruit and vegetables. The markets in countries such as Germany, Spain, Italy and France are large but nearly saturated. Only certain market niches and product groups provide opportunities for growth.
More and more EU entrepreneurs in this business are opting for offshore outsourcing, i.e. moving parts of the production process to developing countries (DCs). As they face increasing pressure to improve, many of them consider offshore outsourcing a strategic means of lowering production costs, increasing their own company’s capacity for products with a higher added-value outsourcing products with a lower added-value. While the number of fruit and vegetable growers in the EU has been declining for decades, their involvement in offshore fruit and vegetable growing is increasing. Read more »
Date: Monday, October 5, 2009
Categories: Market research
Taxing at a high rate can have substantial consequences for consumer demand for cut flowers. Fiscal borders between EU countries were, in theory, eliminated from 1 January 1993 onwards. However, in practice, harmonisation of VAT (tax levied at consumer sales’ level) rates has not yet been achieved. Read more »
Date: Sunday, October 4, 2009
Categories: India, Market research, News
Floriculture exports from India are expected to see a 20 per cent decline this year “as buyers are holding on to their purse strings due to the slowdown,” S Jafar Naqvi, president of the Indian Flowers and Ornamental Plants Welfare Association (iFlora), has said. Read more »
Date: Friday, October 2, 2009
Categories: Market research, Marketing
A strong development in the European flower business is the increasing importance of virtualisation. Virtualisation plays a major role in the reduction of transaction costs. Until a few years ago, the development of virtual flower trade was hampered by the perceived importance of visual appearance to determine product quality. Improvements in the provision of accurate supply information and reliability, however, have made virtualisation a major success. Read more »
Date: Friday, October 2, 2009
Categories: Fruit & vegetables, Market research
Three important developments are affecting developing country producers of fresh fruits and vegetables targeting the EU: stricter food safety demands, changing importer roles, and shifting global trade patterns. Read more »
Date: Thursday, October 1, 2009
Categories: Market research
Eurostat trade statistics illustrate that the EU is the world’s leading importer of flowers, with imports amounting to € 3.5 billion in 2008. In the period 2004-2008, imports increased significantly at an annual average rate of 1.9% in terms of value. In terms of volume, imports actually decreased by 2.1% on average per year. These opposite developments show that average prices of the imported flowers became higher. Read more »
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Categories: Market research, ProVerde projects
In the international market for cut flowers and foliage, the major tropical flowers (or exotics) are Orchids and Anthuriums. Other important products falling within this product group are Protea’s (originally from South Africa) and of course Heliconias, Alpinia, Gingers, Strelitzias (birds of paradise) and to a lesser extent Calatheas. Read more »
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Categories: Kenya, Market research, News
A water rationing mode currently effected in Naivasha, the bedrock for flower farming, is likely to deny the country the revenue from improved sales ahead of the onset of the peak flower season later this month.
Analysts say the move is adding to the troubles the sector is facing. The industry reported a decline in demand for its products in key markets since the onset of global recession last year, as production drops further with the ongoing drought.
Read more »