A Southern Queensland flower grower says the flower market has stabilised after a turbulent start to the year — but the implications of tightening coronavirus restrictions in Victoria are still unclear.
Lockyer Cut Flowers owner Stephen Spierling produces cut flowers, including roses, ranunculus, and poppies in the Lockyer Valley.
He said the industry saw a huge oversupply of flowers from domestic and overseas markets at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, followed by skyrocketing demand as imports stopped.
Australian growers were forced to destroy tens of thousands of flowers in March.
"We basically went from a situation of huge oversupply to a shortage within two weeks," he said.
"Initially it was pretty bad. While the planes were still in the air, we had a lot of imported flowers coming in and no demand."
Mr Spierling said demand had since returned to normal.
"Demand and supply seem to be fairly well matched," he said.
"Whatever normal is, we're at it at the moment I think."
Online sales could flourish in lockdown
Victoria accounts for around 20 per cent of Mr Spierling's market.
As Melbourne re-enters lockdown for six weeks and ramps up restrictions, Mr Spierling was wary of the potential effects on sales if more people looked for ways to cut discretionary spending.
But he said there was a chance the restrictions could actually boost sales.
"We found with the last lockdown, you couldn't go and visit Grandma or Mum or family members so sending flowers was a reasonable option," he said.
"So most of the florists or operators that had an online presence did very well.
"But how it reacts this time, we're just not sure yet."
Rabobank has estimated the financial impact of the pandemic on the global floriculture industry will be at least a $1.5 billion loss.
