The prospect of Japanese flower market and the potential of exporting Malaysian cut chrysanthemums by sea shipment.

摘要

Floriculture industry is one of the lucrative industries in Malaysia. It was given emphasis in the National Agriculture Policy to be promoted in Malaysia as one of the potential industries. Several incentives and government supports were granted to floriculture industry in order to boost up the growth of the agriculture industry in Malaysia. Japan is the major export market for Malaysia dried flowers. Japan is also the second major export destination for Malaysian tropical orchids, temperate cut flowers and dried foliages. The cut flowers import by Japan indicates an increasing trend. The import of floricultural products by Japan has increased from RM64 million in 1985 to RM652 million in 1997 and further increased to RM686 million in 2001. Presently, Holland is the major supplier of cut flowers to Japan. However, the price is higher as compared to the other supplier countries. Due to price factor and flower freshness, Japan preferred to outsource the floricultural products from the neighbouring countries, including Malaysia. Chrysanthemum is the most popular cut flower in Japan as compared to other cut flowers. Due to vast potential for Malaysian chrysanthemum in Japanese market, trial sea shipment of chrysanthemum was conducted as to explore the opportunity of reducing transportation cost. Results of the trials showed that transportation and documentation cost of cut chrysanthemums from farm to auction market in Fukuoka was RM0.65 and RM0.57 per stalk in summer, and in winter respectively. The transportation cost for winter was cheaper as 100% of the flowers delivered were in good condition, and well accepted by the auction markets. The average air shipment cost per stalk was RM1.12. Hence, delivery via sea will reduce the transportation and documentation cost by more than 70 and 96% in summer and winter, respectively..