Colombian flower growers shipped 65,000 tons of fresh cut flowers to the United States for Valentine's Day amid mounting economic pressures that threaten the industry's survival, according to trade association Asocolflores.

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Colombia, the world's second-largest flower exporter, shipped approximately 65,000 tons of fresh-cut flowers to the United States for Valentine's Day, a period that typically accounts for 20% of annual sales. However, the industry is facing major challenges due to a 10% U.S. tariff imposed in April, a stronger Colombian peso, and a 23% increase in minimum wage, all of which are eroding profit margins.

Industry representatives warn that these economic pressures could lead to widespread layoffs and farm closures by the summer if conditions do not improve. The flower sector employs nearly 250,000 workers in Colombia, and the U.S. market represents about 80% of its exports.

Tariffs threaten Colombian flower industry amid Valentine's rush

Millions of Colombian roses arrived in the United States just in time for Valentine's Day, but industry experts worry the world's second-largest flower exporter won't survive new economic challenges. Colombia, which trails only the Netherlands in global exports, shipped approximately 65,000 tons of fresh-cut flowers to the U.S. between January 15 and February 9. The Valentine's season typically accounts for 20 percent of annual sales, according to the industry group Azoco Flores. But the holiday rush is being overshadowed by a 10 percent U.S. tariff imposed last April as part of President Donald Trump's broader trade measures. The U.S. accounts for about 80 percent of Colombia's flower exports. Jose Antonio Restrepo is the manager of a flower-producing and trading company near Bogota. We've been seriously affected. Last year, a 10 percent tariff, which represents more than $200 million for the industry. On top of that, there's an exchange rate that we haven't seen in many years. And lastly, the minimum wage issue. In a business like flowers, labor accounts for about 60 percent, and around 85 percent of our people earn the minimum wage. So we're in very adverse, very difficult circumstances. He warned that without a shift in economic conditions, the industry could face widespread layoffs and farm closures by this summer. Growers are also battling a peso that has strengthened almost 12 percent against the dollar over the past year, and a 23 percent rise in minimum wage, factors that are eroding competitiveness and squeezing margins. Flower cultivation employs almost a quarter of a million workers in Colombia. On the packing floor, Susana Vega said the holiday still brings her a sense of purpose. An immense joy, knowing that we're bringing happiness to someone, to a woman, to a mother, to someone so admired by a loved one. And that we're benefiting ourselves as well, and helping a company move forward to overcome many of the challenges that are happening right now. A very beautiful joy.

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Tariffs threaten Colombian flower industry amid Valentine's rush

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