Roses fly faster, prices fall
JD Flowers, the floral arm of JD.com, expanded its direct sourcing of Ecuadorian roses in the run-up to the Qixi festival, also known as ‘Chinese Valentine’s Day’, which this year is taking place today, 29 August.
By stationing buyers in Ecuador's key growing regions and partnering with farms such as Ceres Farms, the Chinese e-commerce provider now flies roses to China in as little as 72 hours via a dedicated Emirates Airlines route. The process combines pre-cooling, controlled transport at 2–8°C and fast-track customs clearance, reducing delivery time from up to ten days to just three.
The initiative is part of JD’s plan to sell 100 m flowers by 2025, with 50 m sourced internationally. Since the 2024 China–Ecuador free trade agreement removed tariffs, retail prices for roses have dropped around 30%, making them more accessible to Chinese consumers. With 350 cities and 200,000 stores in its instant retail network, JD leverages its logistics backbone to secure stable global supply and rapid nationwide distribution. (ah)