Kenya’s flower industry recorded heavy losses last year after export volumes dropped by 12 per cent, exposing the toll of international airlines abandoning Nairobi routes in search of more profitable markets.
Data from the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) shows that the country’s flower exports fell by Sh72.1 billion from 116,273 tonnes in 2024, with exporters losing Sh1.4 billion in earnings.
“The corresponding export value dropped by Sh 1.4 billion, primarily due to a combination of logistical and regulatory challenges,” AFA said.
“One of the major contributing factors was the cargo crisis at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), exacerbated by the ongoing Red Sea security situation, which forced the diversion of shipping routes from the Suez Canal to the Cape of Good Hope," it added.
The disruptions saw several international carriers exit Kenya. Qatar Airways cut two freighters between Nairobi and Liege, Belgium, slashing capacity by 200 tonnes, while Turkish Airlines pulled one freighter weekly from Nairobi to Maastricht, Netherlands, reducing space by another 100 tonnes.
Kenya’s flowers are mainly shipped to the Netherlands, which takes up about 70 per cent, followed by the UK, Germany, Italy and France. But the industry was hit hard as airlines shifted capacity to routes offering higher returns.
Cargo flights from Asia to the US fetched up to $8 (Sh1,033.92) per kilogramme, compared to only $2.5 (Sh323.10) to $2.8 (Sh361.87) per kilogramme from Kenya.
Despite the setbacks, roses remained the backbone of the sector, contributing 70.2 per cent of export value in 2024.
“In 2024, flowers remained Kenya’s leading horticultural export, generating Sh72.1 billion, which accounted for 53 per cent of the total export value. This marks a slight decline compared to Sh73.5 billion in 2023, where flowers comprised 47 per cent of the total export value,” the regulator said.
The freight squeeze came at a time when demand for air cargo space for other perishables such as fruits was rising globally.
Exporters not only faced shrinking capacity but also higher freight charges that ate into margins. On top of that, Kenya’s flower industry struggled under tighter European Union (EU) phytosanitary rules.
“In particular, the EU’s intensified monitoring for false codling moth resulted in 95 export rejections and 48 interceptions in 2024 alone,” the AFA noted.
