Flowers & plants via air freight to Mexico

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 Mexico

Mexico is Latin America’s second largest economy after Brazil and a key market for automotive parts, machinery, pharmaceuticals, and high-tech goods. Under the EU-Mexico Global Agreement, Dutch goods benefit from preferential import duties. Schiphol has 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 correct commercial invoice, packing list, a registered Mexican RFC number from the importer, and a NOM conformity declaration for many product categories. COFEPRIS registrations are required for foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

Practical Tips

• Work only with a Mexican Importer or Record (IOR) or an agente aduanal — self-clearing is generally not possible
• NOM certification must be arranged in advance; otherwise the shipment will be held at the airport
• Expect Spanish-language documentation and correct HS classification according to Mexican regulations

Aircargo.nl works with fixed agente aduanal partners in Mexico City and manages the entire documentation chain — including NOM coordination and the EU-Mexico issuer’s declaration — for smooth processing.

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.