Spring is here, and the weather calls for some gardening. So, nothing like taking some time out of Easter break to plant some flower bulbs. But is the EU an importer or exporter of orchid, hyacinth, narcissi and tulip bulbs, for example?

In 2022, the EU exported a total of €100.6 million worth of orchid, hyacinth, narcissi and tulip bulbs in growth or in flower, while imports were only €30.9 million. 

Of all EU countries, the Netherlands alone was responsible for 81% of all exports of those bulbs (€82 million). The other top exporters had shares of total exports below 10%: Lithuania (7%; equivalent to €6.7 million), Poland (5%; €4.8 million), Denmark (2%; 2.1 million) and Latvia (2%, 2.0 million). 

Source dataset: ds-045409

Data shows that most of the orchid, hyacinth, narcissi and tulip bulbs are exported to European territory. Switzerland is the EU’s main partner on this product, importing €31.3 million worth of those items (31% of the total). This EFTA country was followed by the UK (€21.4 million; 21%), Norway (€11.5 million; 11%), Russia (€9.4 million; 9%) and Ukraine (€5.5 million, 5%).

The EU also exports €20.9 million worth of other bulbs, tubers, tuberous roots, corms, crowns and rhizomes, in growth or flower, with the Netherlands leading as the main exporter in this category as well (€10.5 million; 50% of the total).