- Cut flowers and flower buds here means cut stems, twigs and branches used solely for decorative purposes. They do not mean plants for breeding or cultivation, and do not include cut flowers with soil attached, bulbs, living plants and edible flowers (e.g. cauliflowers and broccoli).
- Recently, flowers have appeared for sale in supermarkets and various other stores. There have been some indications of a decline in demand for flowers for hotel decoration and ceremonial occasions such as weddings and funerals following the collapse of the bubble economy, but the increase in living standards and changes in the residential environment have encouraged people to seek ways of brightening up their lives, and flowers are now enjoyed by a growing number of families.
- Demand for cut flowers in Japan is increasing yearly, and annual spending per household is around JPY13,000. As the average household makes around 10 purchases per year, each household purchases around JPY1,000 of cut flowers once per month.
- Total demand for cut flowers in Japan in terms of value is around JPY180 billion per annum; approximately 90% is produced domestically and 10% imported. Japanese imports of cut flowers started in the late 1960s when chrysanthemums were imported from Taiwan, followed by imports of orchids from Southeast Asia (especially Thailand). Imports then leveled off, but increased rapidly from 1985, and the proportion of cut flowers imported has increased from 5-6% to 10%.
- Initially, varieties and new species which could not be planted in Japan or which were unusual and not found in the country were imported, and shortages between harvests in Japan in autumn and winter were prevented by importing from New Zealand and Australia in the southern hemisphere. Recently, however, there has been a growing tendency to import cheaply from overseas due to the high cost of domestic varieties. An advantage of overseas produce is that it has become possible to obtain cheaply and in volume which meet customer demands.
- The three most popular varieties-chrysanthemums, roses and carnations-account for 60-65 % of total demand, but they too are increasingly being imported. Imported cut flowers are consequently growing from being niche to central important products.
- Imports of cut flowers over the past five years were as follows:
|
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
| HOLLAND |
5,066 |
6,213 |
6,674 |
6,903 |
5,124 |
| THAILAND |
3,482 |
3,732 |
3,875 |
3,767 |
3,504 |
| TAIWAN |
911 |
824 |
711 |
707 |
811 |
NEW ZEALAND
|
1,776 |
1,869 |
2,719 |
2,825 |
2,704 |
| SINGAPORE |
1,777 |
1,547 |
1,416 |
1,497 |
1,452 |
| AUSTRALIA |
873 |
952 |
1,013 |
1,108 |
1,104 |
| USA |
586 |
520 |
521 |
478 |
444 |
| COLOMBIA |
384 |
471 |
583 |
678 |
866 |
| TOTAL |
15,791 |
17,276 |
19,179 |
19,878 |
18,021 |
Unit : JPY million
Source : Japanese Ministry of Finance, "Japan Trade Monthly"
(Note that due to imports from other countries, the total imports from the above eight countries do not equal imports in the total column.)
- The largest source of imports is Holland, which exports varieties and new species of every kind to Japan (especially chrysanthemums, lilies and tulips). In Holland, cut flowers are produced on a commercial basis, in contrast with Japan where cut flowers are made by individuals for delivery to agricultural associations. Next is Thailand, which exports large quantities of cheap orchids (JPY80-100/piece) to Japan as they can be used to create a tropical atmosphere. Third is the horticultural nation of New Zealand, where Dutch people have gone to produce cut flowers. Large quantities of orchids (particularly cymbidium) which only flower at low temperatures are imported from New Zealand from December to March during off season in Japan. The main imports from Singapore, Australia and Colombia are orchids, protea and carnations.
- Freshness used to be a problem with imported cut flowers, and even if sent by air, it took at least 4 days from the time flowers were cut to their appearance on the market. However, the following factors have gradually reduced this problem :
(1) transportation at low temperatures,
(2) time reduction between cutting and arrival (arriving the following day in the case of cut flowers from Southeast Asia),
(3) the gradual weeding out of poor shippers sending cut flowers of insufficient freshness and the survival only of consignors shipping good quality products, and
(4) use of elixir of life.
In short, preservation and transportation techniques are advancing rapidly.
- Domestic cultivation of cut flowers is being affected by the gradual aging of the workforce and the shortage of successors, which has resulted in a growing reliance on imports. 10% of all cut flowers are now imports, and this figure looks set to increase to 20-25% in the near future. The fact that a single variety can be obtained cheaply (30-50% cheaper than domestic prices) in advance in volume is a further attraction of imported cut flowers.
- The Washington Pact prohibits or restricts international trade in some species of plants and animals, and cyclamens, aloes and all species of cactus and orchid are under restrictions.
- The spread of blight insects into Japan is prevented by the Prevention of Epidemics Law of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery enacted in 1950. Ports for imports (seaports and airports) are designated, and imports are inspected at designated ports. Items failing inspections are disinfected (fumigated/sorted). Cut flowers infested by insects not killed by fumigation are disposed of or shipped back.
- Quarantine officers were sent to countries such as Colombia, India, China and Vietnam at the end of 1996, and imports from these countries are expected to increase in the future.
- Cut flowers are traded at international prices, and so there is no significant price difference between countries. The most popular colors change each year.
- There is some competition from artificial flowers, but artificial cultivation is also increasing. Imports and domestic output of natural flowers are both increasing, and consumers tend to prefer natural flowers. Demand for artificial flowers increases when prices of natural flowers rise steeply.
- The custom of giving cut flowers as gifts on St. Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and birthdays is getting popular in Japan.
- Some major supermarkets once imported orchids directly from Thailand, but they have stopped and now leave import to trading company specialists.
- Some Japanese firms have taken Japanese seeds to New Zealand, China and Vietnam for cultivation, but their numbers are rather small.
- No import duty is levied on cut flowers, which are duty-free. Agricultural produce is exempted from Product Liability (PL) Law.
|
