Coronavirus: How Africa’s supply chains are evolving

Coronavirus: How Africa’s supply chains are evolving

Coronavirus: How Africa's supply chains are evolving









Image caption



Ground staff loading fresh produce into a Kenya Airways Boeing 787





The coronavirus lockdown measures imposed by governments around the world have caused severe disruption to supply chains, as companies were forced to shut in March.

One sector that has been deeply impacted by the pandemic is the flower industry in East and Southern Africa, which is one of the biggest exporters of cut flowers in the world.

Prior to the pandemic, the global cut flower market was worth $13bn (£10.4bn) per annum, according to international flower trade association Union Fleurs.

The European Union and the US are the biggest buyers of cut flowers in the world, Union Fleurs says. Kenya is Africa's largest flower exporter, with South Africa not far behind.

Multiflora in Johannesburg is one of South Africa's busiest cut flower auction houses. Prior to the pandemic, the auction house had an annual turnover of $16m. But right now, the auction house is getting 40% of the revenue it previously had.

Delayed and cancelled flights, increased freight costs and a huge fall in demand have brought the flower trade to a virtual standstill, and some