Flowers & plants by Air Freight to Uzbekistan

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 Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is the most populous economy in Central Asia and is undergoing rapid modernization. Demand for Dutch machinery, agri-technology, medical equipment, and construction materials is growing strongly. Schiphol does not have direct cargo flights — routing usually goes via Istanbul (Turkish Cargo), Frankfurt, or Riga to Tashkent (TAS) or Samarkand (SKD). Typical transit time is 2–4 days.

Customs & Regulations

Uzbekistan is not a member of the EAEU and applies its own import tariffs and regulations. Importers need a valid STIR tax number. Most shipments require a commercial invoice, packing list, and a Certificate of Origin. Separate certification requirements apply for food products, medical equipment, and chemicals through Uzstandart.

Practical Tips

• Documentation in Russian significantly speeds up clearance
• Currency exchange regulations and payment transactions can be complex — coordinate this in advance with your Uzbek importer
• Export licenses from the Netherlands are required for dual-use and mining-related goods

Aircargo.nl works with dedicated agents in Tashkent and handles complete documentation including translation and local coordination of customs clearance.

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.