Reposted from China National Radio Network, Fuzhou, March 9

Fujian Province has actively implemented green development concepts and vigorously developed the “beautiful economy” of flowers and seedlings. By formulating supportive policies for the floral industry, the province has achieved rapid growth in this sector. Exports of characteristic plants such as Sansevieria, Phalaenopsis orchids, Ficus microcarpa (banyan trees), and Pachira aquatica (money trees) have remained robust. Recently, Xiamen Customs reported that Fujian’s flower and seedling exports reached 730 million yuan in 2024, marking a 2.7% year-on-year increase. This accounted for 17% of China’s total floral exports during the same period, ranking the province third nationally. Notably, private enterprises dominated the export landscape, contributing 700 million yuan (96% of the province’s total floral exports) in 2024.

Data shows strong performance in the EU, Fujian’s largest floral export market. According to Xiamen Customs, exports to the EU totaled 190 million yuan in 2024, up 28.9% year-on-year and representing 25.4% of Fujian’s total floral exports. Key markets like the Netherlands, France, and Denmark saw rapid growth, with exports surging 30.5%, 35%, and 35.4%, respectively. Meanwhile, exports to Africa reached 8.77 million yuan, a 23.4% increase, with Libya standing out as a rising market—exports to the country soared 2.6-fold to 4.25 million yuan.

Fujian’s mild, humid climate and abundant rainfall provide ideal conditions for cultivating flowers and seedlings. The adoption of greenhouse technologies, such as solar greenhouses, has further injected new momentum into the industry.

At Zhangzhou Sunny Flower Import & Export Co., Ltd., a sprawling 11,000-square-meter smart greenhouse showcases Ficus (banyan trees), Sansevieria (snake plants), Echinocactus Grusonii (golden barrel cacti), and other species thriving in controlled environments. The company, integrating production, marketing, and research, has achieved remarkable success in international floral exports over the years.

To help Fujian’s floral enterprises expand globally, Xiamen Customs closely monitors international regulations and phytosanitary requirements. It guides companies in pest control and quality assurance systems to meet import standards. Additionally, leveraging “fast-track” procedures for perishable goods, the customs authority streamlines declaration, inspection, certification, and port checks to preserve product freshness and quality, ensuring Fujian’s blooms flourish worldwide.