Flowers & plants air freight from Japan to Thailand

Why flowers & plants by airfreight?

Cut flowers and plants have a shelf life of only a few days. Airfreight is not an option — it is the only option. Roses picked in Kenya on Monday must be in the auction in Aalsmeer by Wednesday. This is only possible via airfreight 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 many years of experience with the specific requirements of flower transport: speed, cooling, phytosanitary documentation, and direct delivery to the auction.

Typical flower transport routes

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

Exporting to Japan

Japan is a demanding but reliable trading partner. The country imports high-quality European products: precision machinery, pharmaceuticals, food (cheese, flowers, beer), and luxury goods. The EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) came into effect in 2019 — resulting in low or zero import duties on many EU products imported into Japan, provided they are accompanied by a EUR.1 or certificate of origin.

Japanese Customs Requirements

Japanese Customs is known for its accuracy and strict documentation requirements. The commercial invoice must be complete: detailed product description, HS code, value per item, and country of origin. Incomplete documents are consistently returned.

Key Points

• EPA: use Origin Declaration for shipments over €6,000 (REX system)
• Cosmetics and food require compliance with the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act (PMD Act)
• Electrical appliances must comply with PSE marking
• Flight time around 11 hours — allow sufficient lead time for customs clearance

Importing from Thailand

Thailand is a major supplier of fresh products (orchids, tropical fruit, seafood), automotive parts (Thailand is the "Detroit of Asia"), electronics, jewelry, and specialty foods. Many Dutch importers receive weekly shipments via Schiphol.

Air Freight vs. Sea Freight

Sea freight from Laem Chabang or Bangkok to Rotterdam takes 25–32 days. Air freight via Schiphol is customs-cleared within 1–2 business days—essential for fresh products like orchids and tropical fruit, as well as automotive AOG parts.

Customs for Imports from Thailand

Under the EU GSP system, many Thai products qualify for reduced import duties if accompanied by a valid Form A. Fresh products undergo EU phytosanitary and veterinary inspections at Schiphol via the NVWA. Aircargo.nl handles full customs clearance including NVWA and KCB coordination for fresh products.

Popular Goods from Thailand

• Fresh products (orchids, tropical fruit, seafood)
• Automotive parts and components
• Jewelry and gemstones
• Specialty foods (sauces, spices, dried fruits)

Japan as Crosstrade via Schiphol

Due to Japan’s geographical location at the end of major Asian routes, Schiphol often serves as a European hub for Japanese goods en route to the rest of Europe or North Africa. Aircargo.nl coordinates transit shipments to and from Japan for clients in the automotive industry (Toyota, Honda suppliers) and electronics sector (Panasonic, Sony supply chains).

Points of attention for flower transport

Cold chain

Flowers must be kept between 2–8°C throughout the entire transport. Any temperature interruption accelerates the aging process and reduces shelf life for the end customer. Aircargo.nl works exclusively with certified cool-chain handlers at Schiphol.

Phytosanitary requirements

A phytosanitary certificate is mandatory for importing plants and cut flowers from countries outside the EU. This certificate is issued by the plant health authority of the exporting country and confirms that the shipment is free from pests. Aircargo.nl routinely checks 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 are unsure about the CITES status of your products.