The New Zealand flower exporting industry says 2020 will be a year of survival rather than a time to make money.
Cymbidium orchids, hydrangeas (pictured) and peonies making up the bulk of the export supply. Photo: Susan Murray RNZ
The managing director of New Zealand's largest flower exporting company NZ Bloom says weddings, parties and casinos are normally big customers and they are not buying.
Flower exports are worth $20 million a year with cymbidium orchids, hydrangeas and peonies making up the bulk of the supply.
David Ballard says viewing things as positively as possible there will still be some business and the dollar is weak, but he admits they won't know whether the season is terrible or just soft, until sales start in May.
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Ballard says luckily they export to 25 countries which means they can move product around as market conditions change.
The flower market was still operating in Japan two weeks ago and the last of a hydrangea consignment from New Zealand was selling well, but the United States market had stopped totally.
David Ballard says Air NZ is still linking into Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Shanghai and Australia, with connections into Japan so they do have a range of markets open to them.
