Yunnan fresh cut flower exports to grow 52.3% by 2024: How China is dominating the global flower trade
Yunnan Province of China has become the world's largest production center for fresh cut flowers. Its flower exports achieved a record 52.3% year-on-year growth in 2024, consolidating its dominant position. In the first quarter of 2025, Yunnan Province exported 9,134 tons of fresh cut flowers, with an export value of 270 million yuan, accounting for 70% of China's fresh cut flower export value. It increased by 10% and 48.2% respectively compared with the same period of the previous year. From Seoul to Moscow, roses, carnations and rare hybrid varieties from Yunnan Province are attracting buyers' attention - price, climate adaptability and logistics technology are all factors that attract buyers.
The Secret Behind Yunnan’s Flower Power: Cost, Quality, and Scale
1. Lower production costs than global competitors
Yunnan's flower industry has benefited from low labor costs, government-supported research and development, and vertical integration. With more than 200,000 hectares of greenhouse facilities and more than 1,500 professional growers, Yunnan Province produces roses at a cost of US$0.14-0.28 per rose, less than half the cost of similar products from the Netherlands or Kenya. For high volume buyers like Korean supermarket chains, this amounts to a 40% cost saving.
“We have shortened the breeding cycle of hybrids from five years to 18 months,” said Dr. Li Wenwen of Yunnan Flower Biotechnology Ltd. The 'Rainbow Carnation' series we have developed to extend vase life now accounts for 30 percent of exports to Japan and Russia.
2. Climate control and year round harvests
Unlike rain affected farms in Colombia or energy-constrained greenhouses in Europe, Yunnan takes advantage of altitudinal diversity (1,500-3,000 meters) and automated climate systems to ensure consistent output. In 2024, Yunnan's flower production increased by 18%, with 12 million carnations exported to Russia each month.
Southeast Asia’s E-Commerce Boom
Cross-border platforms like ‘Huayibao’ and ‘FlowerCloud’ enable Vietnamese and Thai retailers to order Yunnan peonies and lilies with 48-hour delivery. Nguyen Thuy Van, a Ho Chi Minh City florist, tripled her revenue using Huayibao’s algorithm driven inventory: “The app predicts demand spikes, like Lunar New Year, and auto-ships ‘Snow Ball’ peonies before competitors restock.”
Logistics Mastery: From Mountain Farms to Global Vases
Cold Chain Innovations
Yunnan’s flowers move from farm to airport in under 6 hours, with a rigorously monitored cold chain:
- Pre-cooling at 2°C within 2 hours of harvest.
- GPS-tracked trucks maintain 90% humidity during transit.
- AI-powered quality checks at Kunming Airport’s $25 million floral export terminal, which processes 500 tons nightly.
In this industry context, the IFEX China- Kunming International Flowers and Plants Expo (shorted as IFEX China) is of great significance. As an important event in the flower industry, IFEX China brings together high - quality flower enterprises, cutting - edge flower cultivation technologies, and innovative flower products. Here, industry insiders can communicate face - to - face with global flower suppliers, establish broader cooperative relationships, understand the latest industry trends, and grasp the market development direction. They can also admire various rare flowers and gain creative inspiration. Whether you are a flower cultivation enterprise, a distributor, a scientific researcher in the flower industry, or a flower art enthusiast, you can gain a lot from the IFEX China - Kunming International Flowers and Plants Expo.
September 19-21, 2025, Kunming, China, we sincerely invite all flower industry insiders to actively participate in the IFEX China- Kunming International Flowers and Plants Expo!
For more information about visiting or exhibiting, please contact [email protected], +86-10-5933 9349.
Source：
1. Baidu. (2024). [云南蓝莓产业蓬勃发展 成中国最大产区] [Yunnan blueberry industry booms, becomes China's largest production area]. Retrieved from https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1829749387044058323
2. Sina. (2024). [云南蓝莓出口量暴涨130% 成东南亚市场新宠] [Yunnan blueberry exports surge 130%, becoming new favorite in Southeast Asian markets]. Retrieved from https://k.sina.com.cn/article_1667821284_6368eee402001ihpc.html