Ahead of International Women's Day customs officers are clearing more than 350 tonnes of fresh flowers per day — 75% above the January daily average. Source: FCS Russia.
From 1 to 25 February, 8,800 tonnes of floral products were imported. After clearance, the average price of a rose is about RUB 42 depending on stem length and bud size; retail prices may differ significantly.
Nikolai Birlov, chief inspector of the FCS Russia analytical centre, said: “Flower shipments traditionally increase in the pre-holiday period.” Clearance takes no more than four hours because the goods are perishable.
Since the start of the year, more than 14,900 tonnes worth USD 112 million have been declared. Roses account for 45% of volume, chrysanthemums 20% and carnations 7%. Leading suppliers are Ecuador (41%), the Netherlands (32%), Colombia (9%) and Kenya (8%). The largest clearance volumes are at Moscow and North-West electronic customs offices (5,900 and 5,800 tonnes).
