Tulips

As spring starts, trade of flower bulbs blossoms. Warmer temperatures and longer days bring renewed interest from florists, retailers and consumers, fueling the export market. 

In 2024, the EU exported €98.9 million worth of orchid, hyacinth, narcissus and tulip bulbs in growth or in flower, while imports were only €4.7 million. 

The Netherlands continues to be the main EU exporter of orchid, hyacinth, narcissus and tulip bulbs, with exports worth €82 million, representing 83% of all exports. The other top exporters all had shares below 10%: Poland (9%), Belgium (4%), Germany (1%) and Denmark (1%).
  

Extra-EU trade in orchid, hyacinth, narcissus and tulip bulbs, 2024 (€ million and % of total exports, top 5 exporters and top 5 destinations). Infographic. Link to full dataset below.

Source dataset: ds-045409

Data show that Switzerland was the EU’s main partner, importing €39.4 million worth of these products (40% of the total). Other key importers include the United Kingdom (15%), Norway (10%), Kyrgyzstan (7%) and Ukraine (6%).

The EU also exported €30.1 million worth of other plant 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 (€17.9 million; 59% of the total).  

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Methodological notes

  • This article uses the following Combined Nomenclature (CN) codes for selected products: 
    • 06012030: Orchids, hyacinths, narcissi and tulips in growth or in flower.
    • 06012090: Bulbs, tubers, tuberous roots, corms, crowns and rhizomes, in growth or in flower (excl. those used for human consumption, orchids, hyacinths, narcissi, tulips and chicory plants and roots).
  • Data exclude "dormant bulbs" (CN 0601 10).

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