Dutch auction sales drop in 2009

FloraHolland Flower Auction recorded a 5% sales decrease for 2009 with sales exceeding 3.8 billion euros. The strong euro caused a drop in sales and prices in a number of export countries.
Cut flowers accounted for sales of 2.1 billion euros (down 12%). House and garden plants grew 4% with sales of 1.7 billion euros. The number of flowers which were processed was roughly the same as last year at 12 billion pieces (down 1%). This shows that most western European consumers are still buying plants and flowers despite the poor economy.
Sales through the main sales instrument, the forty auction clocks at the 6 FloraHolland marketplaces, ended at 2.4 billion euros (down 9%). This year again, there was a slight shift from clock sales towards sales through the nationally-operating intermediary organization FloraHolland Connect.