Flowers & Plants air freight from China to Saudi Arabia

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 China

China is the world’s second-largest importer and one of the most sought-after destinations for Dutch air freight. Schiphol offers direct cargo flights to Shanghai (PVG), Beijing (PEK), and Guangzhou (CAN), ensuring most shipments arrive cargo-to-cargo within 12–14 hours.

Customs & Regulations

Chinese customs are known to be strict. Every shipment requires an accurate commercial invoice, a detailed packing list, and often a Certificate of Origin. For food products, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, mandatory registration with the GACC (General Administration of Customs China) is required. Electronics intended for the Chinese market must comply with CCC certification.

Practical Tips

• Ensure all documents are provided in English and preferably also in Chinese
• Dual-use goods require an export license from the Netherlands
• Chinese holidays (including Golden Week and Chinese New Year) cause significant delays — plan well in advance

Aircargo.nl handles shipments to China daily and is familiar with the pitfalls. We manage the complete export documentation and coordinate with our local agents for smooth processing.

Importing from Saudi Arabia

Imports from Saudi Arabia mainly consist of petrochemical products, plastics, dates, and specialized industrial components. For air freight, we mostly see high-value shipments, samples, and urgent spare parts for the chemical sector.

Air freight vs. sea freight

Sea freight from Jeddah or Dammam takes 18–22 days to Rotterdam. Air freight via Schiphol takes 1–2 business days including handling — ideal for samples, AOG spare parts, or urgent replacements.

Customs for imports from Saudi Arabia

EU import duties apply based on the HS code. Anti-dumping or countervailing duties may apply for petrochemical products. Aircargo.nl manages full customs clearance with Dutch customs and provides fiscal representation when needed.

Frequently requested goods from Saudi Arabia

• Petrochemical semi-finished products and plastics
• Industrial components and samples
• Specialty chemicals for the European market
• Dates and specific food products

China as a Crosstrade Destination

In crosstrade operations, Schiphol acts as a European hub for goods not shipped directly from the Netherlands. China is a highly demanded link in crosstrade routes both as origin and destination, for example for goods routed from the US, UK, or Middle East to China via AMS.

Aircargo.nl has direct relationships with Chinese cargo agents in Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen and can coordinate the entire documentation flow — including Chinese customs formalities — from Aalsmeer.

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.