Dried Flower

The dried flower export sector offers significant growth potential, as it produces a range of handcrafted items made from natural materials. This could be a good business for individuals looking to start a profitable venture focused on dried flowers and handmade items made from natural materials in West Bengal, India. The business will capitalize on India’s rich biodiversity and cost-effective sourcing to supply wholesalers, department stores and décor brands in Europe and the USA.

 

Key Highlights

  • Industry Size: Global dried flower market worth over USD 2 billion, growing at 8–10% CAGR.
  • Investment Requirement: App. 20,000 sq ft of space for storage and processing, plus 25 lakhs (initial setup + working capital).
  • Expected ROI: 20–30% per annum.
  • Product Range: Dried flowers, Natural floral decorations, grasses, foliage, and potpourri blends.
  • Export Markets: Netherlands, Germany, France, UK, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, etc and the USA.
  • Distribution Channels: B2B export to wholesalers, floral distributors, department stores and décor companies.

The business merges environmental responsibility with innovative design, targeting eco-conscious décor markets worldwide.

Participating in leading trade fairs, such as the EPCH Handicraft Fair and Ambiente in Frankfurt, is crucial for growth.

Dried flowers are versatile and can be used for home decoration, event styling, floral crafts, table displays, wall decoration, bouquets, potpourri mixes, and gifting. Indian exporters benefit from low production costs and have access to a diverse range of raw materials.

The dried flower export sector in West Bengal offers significant growth potential, as it produces a range of handcrafted items made from natural materials such as shola, palm, cane, and coconut. This region also has a skilled labour force available for these products. Currently, there is a high global demand for sustainable, eco-friendly décor.

 

Sourcing

Raw materials are predominantly sourced from diverse states across India, each contributing unique resources essential to production.

West Bengal is renowned for its handicrafts and abundant agricultural products. In the northeastern region, Assam provides valuable materials. Other significant contributors to this sector include Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu. Together, these states form a comprehensive supply chain essential to the export of natural materials.

 

What types of Raw materials are sourced for export?

The raw materials used are dried plant parts, sourced only from suppliers in dried form. As a result, no additional drying is necessary at the exporter’s facility. The primary processes at the factory include colouring, bouquet making, and packing. Below are examples of raw materials along with their finished products for better understanding. The Lotus Pods were received in a dried state, and the bouquet was prepared at the processing unit to make it usable for home decoration.

Dried-Flower

The picture below showcases a variety of natural floral decorations made from Shola or other natural materials. These items are received dried and fully complete in flower form, and processes such as coloring, bouquet-making, and packaging take place at the processing unit. Therefore, there is no actual production involved; rather, it is an assembly process.

Dried-Flower

 

Processing and Operations

Processing Unit Location: Generally outskirts of Kolkata

  • No machines are required
  • Drying in the sun, solar dryers and a dehumidified chamber (not mandatory)
  • Manual Grading, Cleaning & Sorting
  • Dyeing and colouring of the materials
  • Packaging is done using paper/plastic sleeves or bags, which are then filled in corrugated boxes
  • Storage of the raw materials and finished goods
  • Logistics: Export via Kolkata Port

 

Regulatory & Licensing Requirements

Mandatory Registrations:

  • Import Export Code (IEC) – DGFT
  • GST Registration
  • Udyam/MSME Registration
  • APEDA Registration (for agri-export benefits)
  • Fumigation Certification or Phyto requirement at the time of export

 

Target Customers

  • B2B export to European and US wholesalers, department stores, decor suppliers, and online distributors.
  • Participation in trade fairs – IPM Essen (Germany), Ambiente (Frankfurt), EPCH Delhi Gift Fair

 

  • Highlight – Natural. Sustainable. Handcrafted in India
  • Emphasise eco-friendly, biodegradable products