IFTEX Expo Kenya 2027

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

Who this event is for

Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

Hotel tiers

A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.

Local transport

Get around the city with these convenient transport options.

Frequently asked

Glossary

1

Cut flower

A harvested stem grown for ornamental use rather than propagation, traded by variety, grade and stem length. Roses dominate Kenya's cut-flower export mix, with summer flowers and cuttings filling out the IFTEX floor.

2

Rose cultivar

A named bred variety whose colour, head size, opening behaviour and vase life decide which market segment it sells into. Cultivar comparison between breeder stands is the core activity for grower-buyers at IFTEX.

3

Summer flowers

Non-rose cut crops such as gypsophila, hypericum, solidago and limonium, typically sold as fillers and accents in mixed bouquets. They form a major Kenyan export category alongside roses and are a distinct product line at the show.

4

Cuttings and propagation material

Unrooted or rooted plant material shipped from breeders and propagators to farms so a variety can be multiplied at scale. This is a separate trade line from cut stems, with its own phytosanitary and licensing rules.

5

Breeder vs propagator

The breeder owns the genetics and licenses a variety; the propagator multiplies it and supplies rooted cuttings to growers. Royalty and exclusivity terms are commonly discussed between these two groups and exporting farms at the show.

6

Stem length

The measured length of a stem, commonly graded in bands from around 40 cm to 80 cm. Length is a pricing parameter for roses and summer flowers, and buyers compare grade mix rather than average length alone.

7

Cut stage (bud stage)

The maturity at which a stem is harvested. Export roses are usually cut tight so they open at the destination market after air freight rather than in the cool room.

8

Vase life

Post-harvest longevity of a stem under defined conditions. Breeders and growers use vase-life data as a sales claim when presenting varieties to importers and bouquet makers.

9

Cold chain

The uninterrupted refrigerated sequence from farm cool room to airport, aircraft hold and importer. Kenyan flowers spend several days in transit, so a break in the cool chain shows up directly as reduced vase life.

10

Post-harvest treatment

Hydration, pulsing and preservative steps applied after cutting to protect quality during transit. Suppliers of these treatments sit alongside growers in the show's supply-chain section.

11

Grading and bunching

Sorting stems by length, head size and quality, then binding them into bunches of a fixed stem count. Bunch specification is part of the commercial offer quoted to importers.

12

Kenya Flower Council (KFC)

Industry body for Kenyan floriculture whose code of practice covers labour, environment and product handling for member farms. Compliance status is a routine question from European buyers.

13

MPS certification

Dutch-origin sustainability certification (including MPS-ABC and MPS-Socially Qualified) used by growers to evidence environmental and social performance to European buyers. Certificates are displayed and queried on grower stands.

14

Royal FloraHolland auction clock

The Dutch auction system that has historically set the reference price for Kenyan cut flowers sold into Europe. Growers at IFTEX often benchmark direct-sale contracts against the clock.

15

Air freight corridor (NBO to AMS)

The main export route moving Kenyan stems from Jomo Kenyatta International to Amsterdam Schiphol and other European hubs. Freighter and belly capacity, plus cut-off times, shape the supply volumes farms can commit to.

16

FOB / CIF terms

Incoterms used in flower contracts, for example FOB Nairobi airport or CIF Amsterdam, which decide who pays freight and insurance. The choice appears in price lists and supply agreements discussed at the show.