Ecuador is the world's third-largest flower exporter, and unlike cacao or bananas, this business moves almost exclusively by air freight: a rose that doesn't arrive fresh on time simply doesn't sell. That makes logistics planning weigh as heavily as the destination market itself. Here is how Ecuadorian flower exports break down in 2026, and what a buyer sourcing from Ecuador needs to plan around.
Where Ecuadorian flowers go
| Destination | Share | Role in the chain |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 34.33% of annual FOB value | Dominant buyer; up to 67% of volume during the Mother's Day season |
| Kazakhstan | 5.84% | Logistics hub into the Eurasian bloc |
| Netherlands | 5.24% | Redistribution hub within the European Union |
Export volume for 2026 is projected between 37,000 and 39,000 tons of flowers, reflecting sustained demand in international markets. The United States remains by far the most important buyer, especially during peak seasons — a point worth confirming directly with your supplier before you commit to a shipping window.
Why Kazakhstan, not direct routes into Russia
Kazakhstan functions as an essential logistics hub for supplying the Eurasian bloc, allowing shipments to bypass tariff bottlenecks and trade restrictions elsewhere in Eastern Europe. Amsterdam plays an equivalent role for most of Europe: Ecuadorian flowers arrive at these hubs and are redistributed from there into markets that are harder to reach with a direct shipment. If your usual European route gets complicated, ask your supplier whether a hub route is available before you assume the shipment isn't feasible.
The two seasons that define the year
Valentine's Day and Mother's Day account for an outsized share of the sector's annual revenue. In 2026, Valentine's Day exports grew 6 percent, with more flights and more air cargo leaving Quito. Mother's Day, by contrast, closed below the 2025 season — a reminder that growth doesn't repeat every year, and that booking air cargo space 60 to 90 days in advance is what separates a well-sold season from one with thin margins. If you are sourcing for either peak, lock in your booking window early and confirm it directly with your supplier rather than assuming space will be available closer to the date.
The phytosanitary certificate you cannot skip
Every flower shipment needs an Agrocalidad phytosanitary certificate, confirming the cargo is pest-free under the standards of the buying country. The United States requires port-of-entry inspection under its own phytosanitary system, and the European Union requires equivalent controls coordinated with World Trade Organization standards. Without that certificate, the shipment does not leave Ecuador — it is worth confirming with your supplier, shipment by shipment, that it is in place before cargo is booked.
- Confirm the Agrocalidad phytosanitary certificate is filed for each shipment, well ahead of departure.
- Book air cargo space 60 to 90 days before Valentine's Day and Mother's Day.
- Verify the specific requirements of your destination country: port inspection for the United States, standardized phytosanitary controls for the European Union.
- If your usual European route gets complicated, ask about hub routes such as Kazakhstan to reach Eurasian markets.
Tariff classification
Cut flowers and buds for bouquets are classified under heading 0603, with specific subheadings by variety: roses under 0603.11, carnations under 0603.12, and other varieties under the following subheadings.
ATLAS estimates delivery times by air route and calculates gross export cost so you can plan cargo space with the lead time each season demands. Daleki Trade coordinates air cargo consolidation during the Valentine's Day and Mother's Day peaks — for an international buyer, that consolidation is what keeps a seasonal order arriving on schedule instead of stuck behind a fully booked flight.