NAIROBI, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's flower sector is facing export disruptions as the conflict escalates in the Middle East, an industry association said on Thursday.
Clement Tulezi, chief executive officer of the Kenya Flower Council (KFC), said that the Middle East remains an important destination for the country's flowers, accounting for approximately 10 to 15 percent of total flower exports, with key markets including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
"Kenya's flower industry depends heavily on reliable air freight to deliver a highly perishable product to global markets, and exporters are making every effort to divert shipments to alternative markets, resulting in lower prices and additional logistical costs," Tulezi told Xinhua.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the flower sector is one of the country's leading sources of foreign exchange, alongside diaspora remittances, tourism, tea and coffee.
Based on industry estimates, Tulezi said that the disruptions have already resulted in losses or disruptions of flower exports worth between 1.6 million and 1.8 million U.S. dollars over the past five days.
The KFC said that it is working closely with exporters, airlines, freight operators and government agencies to manage the situation and minimize losses by identifying new cargo routes and exploring temporary relief measures for affected shipments. ■
