Market of lily bulbs in Argentina

MARINANGELI, PABLO; SCOPONI, LILIANA; VALENTINI, LORENA; CURVETTO, NÉSTOR

Pescia, Toscana, Italia

Simposio; 2nd International Symposium on Genus Lilium; 2010

ISHS-International Society for Horticultural Sciences

In Argentina, a great proportion of lily bulbs is dedicated to cut flower production and the rest to pot plants and dry sales. Due to the low local production of bulbs, flower producers must import their bulbs or purchase them to other importers, although in this case the prices are usually duplicated. Ninety five percent of the bulbs is imported from The Netherlands and 5% from Belgium, Chile and the United States, and are mainly transported by ship (96%).   The amount of Argentinean imports of lily bulbs maintained a significant increase until 2001. By 2002, it drastically decreased due to a deep devaluation of the Argentinean currency, which increased the production costs of the crop and depressed the demand. Then, up to the year 2005, a gradual recovery took place in the amount of imported bulbs which increased significantly until 2008 reaching U$ 413,740, overcoming the value import of the year 2001. Although the quantity of imported bulbs increased, the number of importers diminished from nine in 2001 to four in 2008, which evidences a greater market concentration. In 1999 the hybrids more cultivated were Asiatics and Orientals with a smaller presence of LA and longiflorum. At the present time, LA, OT, and Oriental hybrids are the choices, followed in a smaller proportion by the Asiatics, LO and longiflorum. The market of lily cut flowers and pot plants in Argentina is at present in expansion and hence an increment in the imports and in the production of national bulbs is expected.