AIPH and Union Fleurs to showcase International Statistics Flowers & Plants Yearbook at IPM Essen 2025

The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), in collaboration with Union Fleurs, the International Flower Trade Association, presents the latest edition of the International Statistics Flowers and Plants 2024. This indispensable resource for the ornamental horticulture industry will be showcased at IPM Essen 2025, where copies will be available to view at the AIPH stand GA33.

With the ornamental horticulture industry valued at $70 billion in 2024, the yearbook is the industry’s most authoritative resource, providing unparalleled insights into ornamental horticulture, encompassing data from over 50 countries.

Now in its 72nd year, the International Statistics Flowers & Plants is a trusted publication. Each edition is a testament to the meticulous data collection and analysis, showcasing the unwavering dedication of a passionate team committed to empowering industry professionals worldwide.

A Legacy of Knowledge

Since AIPH first launched the International Statistics Flowers & Plants Yearbook in 1952, it has earned a reputation as the ornamental horticulture industry’s most trusted and comprehensive data resource. Over the decades, it has become an indispensable tool for marketers, wholesalers, researchers, and policymakers, empowering them to make informed decisions and track market trends.

The 72nd edition of the yearbook, capturing data from 2023, is a unique and comprehensive resource. It reflects on the challenges and successes of the past year, enhanced by surveys and contributions from AIPH member associations. This publication provides a multi-faceted view of the ornamental horticulture industry, offering a treasure trove of information, including production data from over 50 countries, global trade maps, licensing statistics, and survey responses that highlight economic impacts and trends.

AIPH Secretary General Tim Briercliffe underscores its importance: “This publication is an invaluable tool for understanding the global dynamics of the ornamental horticulture industry. It provides essential insights for producers, traders, and policymakers alike.”

Key insights include notable shifts in production, trade, and consumption across major markets, from Colombia to Japan and the United States. The data reflects significant global trends such as a rising interest in indoor gardening, particularly among younger urban demographics, and increased demand for environmentally friendly products like biopesticides and sustainable gardening supplies. In Canada, a decline in nursery areas contrasts with an $8 million rise in exports to the United States, revealing regional complexities.

Sector-specific developments also highlight mixed demand for cut flowers, with Japan experiencing a resurgence in bouquet use post-pandemic. At the same time, pot plants and indoor horticulture gained traction in regions like South Africa, where smaller garden spaces are becoming more common.

Extract from International Statistics Flowers & Plants 2024

The Experts Behind the Yearbook

The yearbook’s creation is a collaborative effort, with data processing led by Anne-Kathrin Böhm, a researcher at the Centre for Business Management in Horticulture and Applied Research at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart. Tasked with the monumental responsibility of editing the 2024 edition, Böhm embraced the challenge, leading a meticulous data collection, cleaning, and analysis process over five months. Occasionally supported by student researchers, her leadership ensured the publication’s accuracy and relevance despite the complexities of global data collection.

Complementing this work is the yearbook’s exceptional design, crafted by András Töller, whose dedication over a decade has transformed dense data into an accessible and visually engaging resource.

Extract from International Statistics Flowers & Plants 2024

A Personal Journey Rooted in Horticulture

Horticulture has been a lifelong passion for Böhm, whose interest in plants and biology began during her teenage years. She reflected on her early inspirations, “I’ve always been fascinated by plants and biology.” This personal journey and passion led to a bachelor’s degree in horticultural science, which became the foundation of her career.

Her professional journey took her to the University of Hohenheim, where she joined the Centre for Business Management in Horticulture and Applied Research. “I wanted to gain experience in a different field of horticulture,” Böhm explained. The opportunity to work at the Centre allowed her to engage in research and analysis, paving the way for her role as lead editor of the 2024 yearbook.

Extract from International Statistics Flowers & Plants 2024.

The Art of Cleaning and Analysing Data

Compiling the yearbook requires navigating the challenges of global data collection, standardisation, and analysis. Böhm described the intricacies involved in working with international datasets. Differences in how countries collect and report data often lead to inconsistencies. For example, export data is recorded differently from import data depending on the country’s perspective, and timing variations mean some countries delay reporting their statistics while others publish promptly.

The process also requires handling incomplete or inconsistent reporting, even from trusted sources like Eurostat, the International Trade Centre (ITC) Trade Maps, and national statistical offices. “We don’t have control over how different countries collect their data,” Böhm explained. “It’s often inconsistent, requiring manual cross-referencing and calculations.” Standardising currency conversions, aligning product categories, and accounting for variations in quality standards add further complexity to the process.

Updating data also presents challenges, as some regions provide infrequent updates and use varying definitions for product categories, making direct comparisons difficult. As the yearbook highlights on page 234: “The absolute values cannot in all cases be compared with each other. Definitions of product groups and quality standards vary, making interpretation complex.”

Despite these hurdles, Böhm and the team at the Centre worked diligently to cross-reference and validate data, ensuring the yearbook remains a trusted resource for industry stakeholders.

Data processor Anne Kathrin Böhm of the University of Hohenheim.

A Resource for the Industry

The International Statistics Flowers & Plants 2024 Yearbook offers invaluable insights into the performance of the ornamental horticulture industry in 2023. Its detailed chapters feature key products such as roses, chrysanthemums, lilies, and Christmas trees, providing precise trade values and volume data. The publication also explores broader economic impacts, including inflation, labour shortages, and geopolitical challenges, influencing worldwide consumer preferences and sustainability trends.

For users, the yearbook is not just a collection of data, but a practical tool that bridges expectations and real-world data. “It helps them validate their perceptions,” Böhm noted. “For example, if a wholesaler felt sales were down in 2023, they can use the yearbook to see if their experience aligns with broader market trends.”

Sylvie Mamias, Secretary General of Union Fleurs, emphasises the Yearbook’s value: “In an industry where data is often fragmented, this yearbook offers a consolidated and comprehensive overview, aiding stakeholders in making informed decisions.”

Visit Us at IPM Essen 2025

The International Statistics Flowers & Plants Yearbook remains integral to the ornamental horticulture industry’s growth by providing essential data and insights. With contributions from experts and the participation of AIPH member associations, the publication continues to maintain its status as the definitive reference for the industry.

Attendees of IPM Essen 2025 are invited to visit the AIPH stand at GA33 to explore the International Statistics Flowers & Plants Yearbook 2024. The 2024 Yearbook is available for purchase online for €195 at www.aiph.org/giic/international-statistical-yearbook/. AIPH members can access the yearbook for free via the Members Area. For password updates or further inquiries, contact rachel.wakefield@aiph.org.