The Prospect For China's Cut Flower Export

According to the fundamental international trade principle of Comparative Advantage, China, known as "Motherland of World's Horticulture", enjoys many comparative advantages in the cut flower industry and should participate in the world cut flower trade. Yet our performance is not as satisfactory as it is expected to be. China, the largest flower planting country, possesses a third of the world total cultivation acreage, but China's flower export value is less than 1% of the world total. The fact that most of our flowers supply our increasing domestic consumption might help to explain the contrast to some degree, many factors and problems exist which hinder the development of many export-oriented flower growers and enterprises. Hence this paper concentrates on analyzing those constraints and problems so as to help flower growers enlarge our cut flower export.China's cut flower industry is rather immature because it only has a very short history in commercialization. Consequently, it makes sense to have a reference to how this industry is developed in other countries. Hence this paper illustrates a general picture of the dominant patterns of the current world cut flower production centers and trade firstly. Then a close case study of Holland is presented in view of its successful experience that we could learn. Based on those understanding, the cut flower industry in Yunnan Province is discussed as an epitome of this industry in China. Yunnan Province, aiming at the goal of becoming china's flower export center, is making great efforts in this sector, yet its process toward that goal is slowed down by some problems both at a provincial and national level. From the discussion, suggestions on improvement are given.What's more, this paper also introduces five major trends in the world cut flower trade. As a newly emerging player in world cut flower export, we not only have toabsorb others' successful experience, but have to be alert to the new trends so as not to lag behind in the new round competition. Quick adjustments in strategies are called on to take the advantage of those trends and enlarge our flower export.In brief, although China's cut flower export is still in its infant stage and there exist many problems we need to solve as soon as possible, we still have strong belief that the prospect for China's cut flower export is rosy.