Flower markets bloom with sales ahead of Chinese New Year

As the Chinese Year of the Horse approaches, flower markets across China are heating up with activity, with a growing number of customers shopping for potted plants and floral decorations for the new year.

At the Beijing Flower Trading Center, flowers of various colors and types are attracting customers of all ages.

Among the most popular items are new orchid varieties with pouch-shaped petals that hold blessing cards for the new year.

Creative new designs, such as horse-shaped flower vases and pots, are also catching the eyes of many customers.

In Foshan City of south China's Guangdong Province, flower sellers even designed a potted plant featuring Phalaenopsis orchids arranged in the form of a galloping horse, evoking the joyful spirit of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

"This year marks the Year of the Horse, which carries the auspicious meaning of 'achieving immediate success.' Creative products here sell significantly better. Our sales volume for the New Year season has already grown by one third," said a flower seller in Foshan.

Apart from orchid flowers, red-colored amaryllis and kumquat trees, which symbolize good luck and prosperity, are also among the most popular choices.

In southwest China's Yunnan Province, the Lijiang Modern Flower Industry Park is seeing their calla lilies in white, gold, pink, purple, and many other colors being ordered by an increasing number of clients.

At the Dounan Flower Market -- known as the "flower capital of Asia" -- in Kunming, Yunnan Province, some florists have set up live-streaming rooms right at their stalls, making it easier for customers to buy flowers online and have them shipped directly to their homes.

Logistics companies have also opened priority channels for fresh flower delivery.

"Next-day delivery services are now available in approximately 15 provinces and dozens of cities across the country, while within Kunming, half-day delivery is offered to customers," said Ma Jiangjiang, manager of a local logistics company.

Flower markets bloom with sales ahead of Chinese New Year

European Union (EU) member states have pledged to accelerate the release of 42.6 million barrels of strategic oil reserves over the coming months to stabilize the fuel markets, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jorgensen said Thursday.

EU energy ministers met in Luxembourg to discuss winter energy security, prices, and measures to shore up diesel supplies.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Jorgensen noted that relevant member states reaffirmed their commitment to releasing the 42.6 million barrels, including 20.5 million barrels of diesel, from strategic stockpiles.

Twelve European nations, including Germany, France and Italy, announced in a joint statement that they plan to complete the release by the end of January 2027.

Diesel prices across the EU remain elevated. According to the European Commission's latest Weekly Oil Bulletin, the EU's average retail diesel price stood at around 2.15 euros per liter on Oct. 26, up roughly 35 percent from late February, before the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East.

In March, members of the International Energy Agency (IEA) agreed to release 400 million barrels of emergency oil stocks in response to supply disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

Global energy markets remain under pressure amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. In its October Oil Market Report, the IEA said global diesel markets remained tight, with prolonged disruptions to supplies from the Middle East and Russia contributing to declining inventories, while diesel prices in Europe and other regions remained elevated.

EU countries pledge to release 42.6 mln barrels of strategic oil reserves