Flowers & Plants air freight from Mexico to United States

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 Mexico

Mexico is Latin America’s second-largest economy after Brazil and a key market for automotive parts, machinery, pharmaceuticals, and advanced technology. Under the EU-Mexico Global Agreement, Dutch goods benefit from preferential import duties. Schiphol offers direct cargo flights to Mexico City (MEX) via KLM Cargo and AeroMéxico Cargo. Cargo-to-cargo transit typically takes 12–16 hours.

Customs & regulations

Mexican customs (SAT/Aduana) are known for thorough inspections. Every shipment requires a proper commercial invoice, packing list, a registered Mexican RFC number from the importer, and a NOM compliance certificate for many product categories. COFEPRIS registrations are required for food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

Practical tips

• Work exclusively with a Mexican Importer or Record (IOR) or agente aduanal—self-clearance is generally not possible
• NOM certification must be arranged in advance, otherwise the shipment will be held at the airport
• Ensure Spanish documentation and accurate HS classification according to Mexican regulations

Aircargo.nl works with fixed agentes aduanales in Mexico City and handles the entire documentation chain—including NOM coordination and the EU-Mexico certificate of origin—for smooth processing.

Importing from the United States

Imports from the US often involve high-value goods: medical equipment, semiconductors, aerospace parts, pharmaceuticals, and specialized machinery. The approximately 9-hour flight time makes air freight the logical choice for time-sensitive or valuable shipments.

Customs for imports from the US

The US and the EU do not have a free trade agreement, so standard EU import duties apply. Additional MDR/IVDR requirements apply for pharmaceuticals and medical devices when imported into the EU. Aerospace parts are subject to EASA regulations and require specific certificates (EASA Form 1 or FAA 8130-3).

Frequently requested goods from the US

• Medical and surgical equipment
• Semiconductors and chipsets
• Aerospace parts (AOG)
• Pharmaceuticals and biotech products
• Machinery and industrial tools

Aircargo.nl manages daily import shipments from the US — including customs clearance, any FDA documentation, and delivery throughout the Netherlands.

Mexico as a cross-trade destination

Mexico is a vital link in Trans-Atlantic cross-trade routes. Many Asian and European suppliers are nearshoring production to Mexican manufacturers in the northern maquiladora regions, which is driving growth in cross-trade shipments via Schiphol to MEX or GDL. AeroMéxico Cargo, KLM Cargo, and Lufthansa Cargo serve this route.

Aircargo.nl has agent relationships in Mexico City and Guadalajara and can manage complete cross-trade documentation chains—including Mexican importer coordination—without the shipment physically touching Dutch soil.

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.