Brazil gains approval to export flowers to Saudi Arabia

SAUDI ARABIA – Brazil has officially entered the Saudi Arabian floriculture market, with exports of flowers and hay now cleared for shipping to the Middle Eastern nation.

This development is the third time this year that Saudi Arabia has opened its doors to Brazilian agricultural products.

Earlier in 2024, Brazil gained approval to export vegetable seeds and live poultry to Saudi Arabia, contributing to the growing trade between the two nations.

Brazil’s agricultural exports to Saudi Arabia from January to September 2024 amounted to USD 2 billion, placing the kingdom as the 15th largest market for Brazilian agribusiness.

“This latest approval for flower exports strengthens our position in the global market,” said an official from Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture. “We are optimistic about the opportunities this will bring to our floriculture industry.”

Since the start of 2023, Brazilian agribusiness has entered 262 new markets across 61 countries. The most recent approval from Saudi Arabia marks the 184th such market access granted to Brazilian agricultural products in 2024.

The floriculture market in Saudi Arabia is steadily growing, driven by a rising interest in landscaping and decorative plants, both indoors and outdoors.

Brazil now joins a list of major flower exporters to the kingdom, alongside countries like the Netherlands, Kenya, Ethiopia, and India.

The Dutch, in particular, are known for their high-quality cut flowers, while Kenya and Ethiopia have built reputations for their roses, which dominate the market.

Saudi Arabia imported 10.8 thousand tons of living trees, plants, and flowers in 2022, worth around 20.9 million Saudi Riyal.

Over 809 shipments of flowers were delivered from various countries to Saudi Arabia between March 2023 and February 2024, supplied by 42 exporters to 173 buyers across the nation.

Brazil’s growing presence in Saudi Arabia’s agricultural market is seen as a promising move for its floriculture industry, which now has access to a region with a keen interest in beautifying urban spaces.

This opportunity for Brazilian flower producers comes at a time when demand for plants and flowers in the Middle East is on the rise.

“Saudi Arabia is focusing more on greening its cities and landscapes, so there’s great potential for flower exports from Brazil,” noted an agricultural trade analyst.

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