The floriculture sector of Ecuador executed the shipment of a million roses to the Chinese market in an operation that, from end to end, was completed in 72hThe flowers were intended for the celebrations of the Qixi, the well-known Chinese Valentine's Day.
According to the ambassador MarÃa Soledad Córdova, the operation was coordinated with the platform JD.com and relied on public-private collaboration, within the framework of business agreement in force between both countries.
A lightning operation for the Chinese Qixi
The cargo arrived at the shanghai port on August 22 to meet demand for August 29, when Qixi Festival is celebrated. In total, door-to-door transit was completed in three days.
Cold chain and accelerated dispatch
The company detailed a three-stage temperature control: pre-cooled to 4 °C, transport to 2–8 °C and patented moisture-retaining packaging, plus expedited customs clearance 90 minutes.
This scheme, combined with optimized loading routes, ensured that the flowers arrived fresh and radiant, preserving the quality for which Ecuadorian roses are recognized.
Market access and tariffs
With the free trade agreement in force since May 2024, close to 60% of the products Ecuadorians enter China without tariffs, while in the roses a progressive tax relief will be applied in five years from a previous tariff of 10%.
The combination of tariff reduction and direct supply It aims at more competitive prices for the consumer and better margins for producers and distributors.
JD Flowers Strategy and Projections
The division JD Flowers accelerated the entry of these flowers on the occasion of Qixi and plans to market them more than 100 million units in 2025, incorporating offerings from Ecuador, Colombia, the Netherlands and Japan.
Mass mailing works like this: presentation letter for Ecuadorian floriculture in Asia and paves the way for expanding volumes during high-demand campaigns and dates.
Effects on the bilateral trade relationship
Ecuadorian authorities emphasize that this milestone opens the door to other agricultural goods —blueberries, asparagus, broccoli and protein— which could take advantage of similar conditions for access to the Chinese market.
On the macro level, despite the fall close to 12% of exports to China until November 2024 - due to lower shrimp prices and electrical problems that affected copper -, between January and July 2025 non-oil sales grew 12,6% to 3.390 million.
The success of the shipment of a million roses in 72 hours, supported by precise cold logistics and the framework of the FTA, shows Ecuador's potential to gain presence in China and provides a basis for more products to compete with better times and costs.