Dutch flower firms have seen exports of flowers and plants increase in the first ten months of this year, despite a downturn in imports in Russia, Germany and Austria.

Sector association VGB said on Wednesday that total export value for 2015 so far is €4.7bn, a 3% increase on 2014.

The biggest fall in exports was to Russia where sales were down 27%. Exports to
Germany also fell, by 4% at the end of October, compared with a rise of 5% last year, the VGB said.

However, this was compensated for by strong export sales to the UK where turnover rose 15%, and increased exports to Belgium and Sweden.