Flowers & Plants air freight from Brazil to Mexico

Why ship flowers & plants by air freight?

Cut flowers and plants have a shelf life of only a few days. Air freight is not just an option — it’s the only option. Roses picked in Kenya on Monday need to be at the auction in Aalsmeer by Wednesday. This is only possible through air freight with a controlled cold chain.

The Netherlands is the world’s largest trading nation in cut flowers, and Schiphol is the epicenter. Aircargo.nl has years of experience with the specific demands of flower transport: speed, cooling, phytosanitary documentation, and direct delivery to the auction.

Typical flower transport routes

• Kenya (roses, lilies) → Schiphol: several times daily
• Ecuador & Colombia (roses, chrysanthemums) → Schiphol via Miami or direct
• Ethiopia → Schiphol: growing cut flower sector
• Export Dutch flowers → USA, Japan, Russia, China

Exporting to Brazil

Brazil is the largest economy in South America and a strategic export destination for Dutch companies in the agriculture, energy, machinery, and pharmaceutical sectors. The flight time from Schiphol is approximately 11 hours to São Paulo (GRU) or Rio de Janeiro (GIG) — with direct cargo flights available.

Brazilian Customs — the world's most complex

Brazil is internationally known as one of the most challenging customs environments. The Brazilian tax structure (including ICMS, IPI, PIS, and COFINS) is extremely complex, and the Siscomex system requires detailed electronic declarations. An incorrect HS code or missing document can cause delays of several weeks.

Points of Attention

• Importer must have a Brazilian CNPJ number
• Licença de Importação (LI) — import license — required for many product categories
• ANVISA registration for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics
• Expect an additional 2–5 business days for clearance
• Always use an experienced Brazilian customs broker

Importing from Mexico

Imports from Mexico by air primarily include automotive parts, medical equipment, high-end electronics (from nearshoring factories), avocados, berries, and specialty foods such as tequila and chili.

Air freight vs. sea freight

Sea shipments from Veracruz, Manzanillo, or Altamira to Rotterdam take 14–20 days. Air freight via Schiphol is ready for customs clearance within 1–2 business days—essential for fresh products, automotive AOG parts, and samples.

Customs on imports from Mexico

Under the EU-Mexico Global Agreement, many Mexican products benefit from preferential import duties, provided they have a valid certificate of origin or EUR.1. Fresh products undergo EU phytosanitary inspections at Schiphol through the NVWA. Aircargo.nl manages the entire clearance process.

Popular goods from Mexico

• Automotive and aerospace parts (from Bajio and Monterrey)
• Medical equipment and orthopedic products
• Fresh produce (avocado, berries, asparagus)
• Specialty foods (tequila, mezcal, chili, vanilla)

Brazil via Schiphol: Latin America Gateway

São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) is the largest airfreight hub in South America. Goods destined for Argentina, Colombia, Peru, or Chile are frequently routed via GRU. Aircargo.nl has agent connections in São Paulo that efficiently handle crosstrade shipments, including the notoriously complex Brazilian customs procedures.

Key considerations for flower transport

Cold chain

Flowers must be kept at 2–8°C throughout transport. Any break in temperature accelerates aging and reduces shelf life for the end buyer. Aircargo.nl only works with certified cold-chain handlers at Schiphol.

Phytosanitary requirements

Imports of plants and cut flowers from outside the EU require a phytosanitary certificate. This certificate is issued by the plant health authority of the exporting country and confirms the shipment is free of pests. Aircargo.nl routinely verifies and processes all phytosanitary documents.

CITES

Certain orchids and exotic plants fall under CITES protection and require a CITES permit. Always contact us if you’re unsure about the CITES status of your products.