SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s flower industry has struggled following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corp. (aT) reported a 10.8 percent decrease in cut flower transactions (16.8 million bundles) at the aT Joint Market for Flowers between January and December this year, compared to the same period last year.
Compared to last year, cut flower transactions began to shrink in August, plunging by 47.4 percent this month.
The third wave of the coronavirus that has led to the cancellation of various end-of-year celebrations and festivities has taken a toll on the flower market.
Orchids and foliage plants, also suffering from steep drop in demand, still managed to do better than cut flowers.
Orchid transactions (4.3 million bundles) at the aT Joint Market for Flowers between January and December dropped by 7.1 percent since last year. Transactions of foliage plants dropped by 1.3 percent.
“Ever since the coronavirus outbreak, consumers have been gaining interest in buying plants that are easy to grow and last longer , rather than giving them away as gifts,” industry watchers said.
Image Credit: Yongin City Office / Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
