Three years ago, Invest International launched its export finance facility to make it easier for Dutch capital goods like machinery to reach markets worldwide. Today, we mark an important milestone: the 100th export finance transaction, representing €100 million in support for Dutch businesses expanding their global reach. At the heart of this achievement is Bercomex, a Dutch family-owned company with over a century of expertise in the global flower industry. Bercomex exemplifies how Dutch innovation, specialised machinery and accessible financing come together to enable international growth.
From Dutch roots to global flower chains
Founded in 1926, Bercomex has built its reputation on a specific expertise: the processing of cut flowers. What started as craftsmanship has evolved into highly advanced machinery used across the global floriculture sector.
Today, Bercomex develops and manufactures machines that automate key steps in flower processing. From sorting and grading to cutting, bunching and packaging. These systems are designed to handle thousands of flowers per hour with precision, ensuring consistent quality while reducing waste and labour intensity.
The Bercomex machines are used in the Netherlands and are found in major flower-producing and exporting countries such as Japan, Ecuador and Colombia, as well as markets across Asia, Europe and the United States. An leading example of how Dutch technology plays a role in global flower supply chains, from greenhouse to supermarket shelf.
The role of export finance
Exporting machinery of this kind is not straightforward. These are capital goods—high-value, tailor-made systems that require upfront investment, long production cycles and payment terms that can stretch over years. This is where export finance plays a critical role.
Invest International provides financing solutions that allow Dutch exporters to sell their machines abroad while offering buyers the flexibility to pay over time. This can take the form of supplier credit or buyer’s credit: financing structures that bridge the gap between production and payment, while reducing risks for both sides.
For Bercomex, export finance enables customers worldwide to modernise their operations with Dutch equipment. For Invest International, it ensures that Dutch innovation can reach markets where access to commercial financing is often limited.
Machines as a driver of the Dutch economy
The story of Bercomex is also part of a larger economic trend. Machinery has become one of the most valuable export categories for the Netherlands. In 2022 alone, the export of machines generated €25.5 billion in revenue—making it the country’s most important export product and accounting for a growing share of GDP.
Unlike many other export goods, machinery combines high value with strong margins and deep expertise. It reflects the Netherlands’ position as a knowledge-driven economy, where innovation, engineering and practical application come together.
Within this landscape, sectors such as horticulture play a unique role. The Netherlands is globally known for flowers, but behind that success lies a network of technology providers like Bercomex, enabling efficiency, scale and quality across the industry.
A model for global impact
The 100th export finance transaction shows how:
- Dutch companies translate specialised knowledge into global solutions
- Financing unlocks access to innovation in international markets
- Machinery exports contribute directly to economic growth at home
And perhaps most importantly, it illustrates how collaboration, between companies, financiers and international partners, can scale impact.
Bercomex enters its second century and its machines will continue to support growers and processors worldwide. And with the right financial instruments in place, more Dutch innovations will follow.
Export Finance for Dutch SMEs
By combining Invest International’s export financing solutions with Atradius Dutch State Business insurance coverage, backed by OHV executing the facility, the solution offers a streamlined, lower-risk approach for exporters and their buyers. As a result, Dutch companies can more easily participate in global trade, while ensuring that smaller deals receive the same level of support and security as larger-scale export projects.
