Ishai Sharon, Head of Roses Department, reports to the team on how his analysis during month of June saw the price levels rise considerably high when compared with the same period in 2017 and even in the previous two years. This according to him is good news for all flower farmers across the region.
He further states,” The cool and ideal weather conditions in Europe really helped in the increase flower sales. Furthermore, the end of the schooling period in the region also created a very high demand for flowers.” He went ahead and provided us with a detailed table which clearly showed the price comparison and differences for the year 2017 and 2018 as seen below.
Roses | Clock | Sales 2018 | Difference 2018 | / 2017 |
Quantity | Price | Quantity | Price | |
Week 24 | 24.600.000 | € 0,29 | -23% | 39% |
Week 25 | 25.560.000 | € 0,37 | -15% | 102% |
Week 26 | 27.980.000 | € 0,27 | 0% | 15% |
On the downside, Ishai continues, Kenya’s export supplies were still low as a result of the continued bad weather being experienced in the country. In Ethiopia the situation was not fairing any better as the unstable political situation caused major labor strikes which in turn affected the shipment of flowers by creating unnecessary delays.
In his report, Ishai pointed out that at the end of the market in week 26, the weather conditions unfortunately changed dramatically. European countries experienced a sudden heat wave which as Ishai informs us, is not known when it will end. In response to the heat wave, prices across Europe during this week went down significantly.
What’s more, as he states, “The start of the vacationing period in Europe has not also aided in improving the market prices as well.”
However, Ishai recommends that all growers should begin by analyzing all of the results as per each of the variety and their lengths since there’s absolutely no need to send flowers while incurring extra costs when there’s simply no demand in the market. He continues and points out; all growers should also pay extra attention and send only the top quality as every remark will cause a zero price.
Ishai advises all growers in the region, this is the perfect time for them to start growing and building a good crop for the next supply period as he expects the prices will have improved. Also, once the supply quantity decreases and the weather changes, he believes the prices are expected to improve which could happen earlier in mid August. He concludes, “It’s really not in our hands, however, we hope for the best.”