Flowers & plants air freight from Singapore to Germany

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 Singapore

Singapore is one of the most business-friendly countries in the world and a top choice for European companies looking to enter Asia. The country imposes no import duties on most goods and features a simple, fully digitalized customs system (TradeNet). Changi Airport (SIN) ranks among the most efficient air cargo hubs globally.

Customs & documentation

Singapore applies a 9% Goods and Services Tax (GST) but no traditional import duties. Required documents are straightforward: AWB, commercial invoice, packing list, and for certain goods, an import permit via TradeNet. Pharmaceuticals and medical devices require approval from the HSA (Health Sciences Authority).

Why Singapore?

• No import duties on most goods — resulting in low overall import costs
• Ideal as a regional distribution hub for Southeast Asia
• Flight time around 12 hours — one of the longest routes, plan accordingly
• The EU-Singapore FTA offers additional tariff benefits for EU exporters

Importing from Germany

Importing from Germany by air freight is relatively rare—most goods move by road or rail. When air freight is desirable, it typically involves urgent machine parts, medical equipment, or time-critical industrial components. As an EU country, customs clearance isn't required and shipments are processed quickly.

Aircargo.nl also handles reverse logistics from Germany: returns, repairs, or goods sent back that need to be returned quickly to origin or redirected to another destination.

Singapore: Asia’s free trade hub

Singapore has one of the most open trade regimes worldwide and serves as the logistics gateway to Southeast Asia. Goods destined for Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, or Thailand often route through Changi. Singapore applies no import duties on most goods — ideal for temporary storage or transshipment. Aircargo.nl regularly coordinates crosstrades via Singapore for clients in the semiconductor and electronics sectors.

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.