The Netherlands’ flower and plant exports, the world’s biggest, slumped 6.6 percent last month on falling demand across Europe and plunged 23 percent in Spain after a tax increase.
Shipments slid to 371.4 million euros ($482.2 million) from 397.7 million euros in September 2011, the Aalsmeer, Netherlands-based Dutch Agricultural Wholesale Board for Flowers and Plants wrote in a report on its website today.
Dutch flower sales to southern European countries including Italy and Spain dropped this year as Europe’s debt crisis hurt consumer confidence, according to the report. Spain raised value-added tax on flora to 21 percent from 8 percent last month, further hurting demand, it showed.
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