Colombia, the world's second largest flower exporter after the Netherlands, exported 500 million flowers to 80 countries in the lead-up to Valentine's Day, the Colombian Association of Flower Exporters said Friday.
The association's director Augusto Solano told Colombia's RCN radio network that the volume represents more than 15 percent of the total annual sales for the sector, Xinhua reported.
The Valentine's sales boost signified an economic boon for exporters, with the Colombian peso's slight dip against the US dollar translating into more competitive prices for the flower market, the official said.
Flower exports saw an increase to some destinations, such as the US, Russia, Japan, Canada, and Spain, Solano added.