Nairobi, Aug. 13, 2025 — At the cargo gates of Jomo Kenyatta International, the night air smells faintly of jet fuel and cut stems. Men in reflective vests lean against pallets wrapped in plastic, waiting for the signal to move. Someone shouts in Swahili, and a forklift jolts forward, lifting crates of roses that will be in Dutch auction houses before the weekend crowds arrive.
Over the last month, Kenya’s growers have been scrambling. Orders from Europe — especially for high-end flowers and late-season mangoes — have spiked well beyond what scheduled airlines can carry. In the words of one freight broker: “You can’t put a rose in a queue. Either it moves today, or it’s worthless tomorrow.”
Charters take the lead
Freighter charters, once used sparingly, are now the norm for many exporters. The cost is higher, but the control is priceless. Shipments are packed as soon as they’re cut, cooled within hours, and airborne before the day is out. Miss that window, and the premium market is gone.
Pressure building on the ground
The sudden jump in demand is pushing Nairobi’s cold storage to its limits. Refrigerated trucks idle in long lines outside the airport, waiting for clearance. Exporters worry the bottleneck will worsen if the European buying spree continues into September, especially with the holiday floral season creeping closer.
For now, the mood is tense but determined. Planes are leaving full, growers are getting better prices, and somewhere in Amsterdam, buyers will open a crate tomorrow morning that was still on the vine two days ago.
