A farmer waters orange trees in Shunde district, Foshan, Guangdong province. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn)
Du Yaobin, owner of Mazai flower farm in Shunde district, Foshan, Guangdong province, has had relatively stable exports of Spring Festival-themed plants since he started his business two decades ago.
His exports are estimated at $1.5 million to $1.8 million for the Spring Festival season this year, declining by about 10 percent year-on-year by value largely due to the depreciation of the Malaysian currency.
The Singaporean market, which accounts for 40 percent of Spring Festival-related exports of Mazai, has generated constant growth in the past few years, with relatively a strong Singaporean currency. Markets such as Vietnam and Indonesia have remained stable.
"Singapore is the only country which allows mud to be imported together with plants, which makes it easier to keep plants fresh," Du said.
"Overseas Chinese have strong interest in Spring Festival. I offer more than 300 types of plants for the festival, including Dracaena Sanderiana, Citrus SP and Anthurium Andraeanum."
Spring Festival plants contributed for 20 percent of the $8 million exports by Mazai last year. About 70 percent of the farm's annual business came from the overseas markets.
Damei flower farm in Shunde recorded 10 million yuan ($152 million) in exports this season, similar to the value for last year's season, with those to Singapore, dominated by Citrus SP, taking up 80 percent of such exports.
"New species developed by local farmers such as Phalaenopsis Hybrids have been well received in overseas markets over the past few years," owner Wu Liexi said.
"New products carry higher added-value, given the many years and risky nature of their development."
Many parts of China, most notably Guangdong province, hold the custom of buying auspicious plants for the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year.
Guangdong stands as the origin of about 30 million overseas Chinese, many of whom live in Southeast Asia.
Citrus SP grown in Shunde takes up 80 percent of the market in Southeast Asia, according to Shunde Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, with Citrus SP exports to Singapore up 15 percent for the season this year.
Vietnam buyers favor Phalaenopsis Hybrids and Phododendron SP while those in Malaysia prefer small potted plants.
The past two months saw 4.95 million pieces of festive plants exported from Shunde, mostly to South East Asia.
Flowers grown in Shunde currently bloom in 80 foreign countries and regions, with seedlings and flowers inspected by Shunde Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau amounting to 79.9 million pieces valued at $28.78 million last year, up 36 percent and 30 percent year-on-year respectively.
Oman and Azerbaijan started to import flowers from the district in the year. The first batch of Cymbidium Hybrids SPP was shipped to Reunion Island in January.
