Latin Flower Exports Grow

BY CHRONICLE STAFF

Latin America's exports of flowers are growing, spurred by increased Valentine's Day shipments, logistics companies say.

U.S.-based UPS, the world's largest package delivery company, estimates that the four top Latin American flower exporters shipped more than 1.7 million kilos during January and February, an increase of 21.4 percent from the same period last year, according to Tom O'Malley, VP Air Cargo for UPS. The number of stems grew by 31.8 percent.  The four countries are Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. 

Germany-owned DHL, Latin America's largest express shipping company, shipped 20 million stems of Latin American flowers for Valentine's Day this year.  Around 85 percent of the flowers were exported to the United States, while almost 15 percent were exported to other European countries.

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Keywords: Asia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Europe, Mother's Day, U.S. imports 2007 and 2006