One of the largest peat extraction and processing companies in Latvia, “Laflora”, has concluded the 2025 peat extraction season with an output of 108 thousand tonnes of peat. Through strategic planning of extraction, the opening of new extraction areas, production and sales, the company is able to ensure continuity of operations, maintain revenue and invest in development, despite the worst peat extraction season the industry has seen in recent decades due to the climatic weather conditions.
Because of the particularly unsuitable weather, peat extraction volumes during this year's extraction season – from April to October – reached 71% of the previous year's, when output was at a historic high. The sharp drop in extraction caused by the weather was offset by the opening of new extraction areas in Kalnciems parish, Jelgava municipality, in the northern part of Kaigu bog: “Laflora” has partially begun peat extraction at the “Viršu purvs” site located there, which covers a total area of 130 ha. Work began this year on laying out the extraction fields and constructing drainage systems, which is due to be completed in the 2026 season.
“We are especially grateful to Jelgava municipality, which found a way, by securing European Union fund financing, to put in order the road leading to the new extraction areas, while at the same time improving this previously degraded part of Kalnciems parish – it is a significant step in infrastructure development that will encourage business in the municipality,” says Uldis Ameriks, Chairman of the Board of “Laflora”.
The number of consignments exported by “Laflora” reached 6824 in the first 10 months of this year, with Italy, China and Spain as the largest export markets. Since August, the company has introduced sales restrictions in order to keep the peat products and substrate factory running continuously until the start of the next extraction season.
The company's net turnover in the first 10 months of 2025 reached 28.4 million euros, which is 3% less than in the corresponding period last year. Investment in development this year amounts to 2.8 million euros: new extraction areas have been prepared and access roads built in the bogs, a new staff building is under construction at Drabiņu bog, the peat reception yard at the plant, the finished peat products yard and the central car park at the plant have all been upgraded, with electric vehicle charging points installed, peat extraction and production machinery has been purchased, and the vehicle fleet expanded.
At the same time, for more than a year now “Laflora” has been managing the construction of AS “Latvenergo”'s “Laflora Energy” wind farm in its own Kaigu bog in Jelgava municipality. The wind farm's road network has been created, 16 wind turbines have been erected, and the turbine blades have been transported from the port of Ventspils and installed in a complex logistics operation. Construction is managed in close cooperation with SIA “Forma 2”, wind farm developer SIA “Windy” and general contractor SIA “UPB Nams”. In total, more than 14 local companies are involved in the project, creating innovative cross-sector cooperation and synergy.
The head of “Laflora”, Uldis Ameriks, emphasises: “This is “Laflora”'s 30th anniversary year, and every day this year we are proving that we can expand our capacity and our expertise – not only by overcoming the weather challenges of the peat extraction season and strategically developing our core business, including in the new extraction areas, but also by managing the construction of what is currently the largest wind farm in Latvia.”