"This year marks a lean year for lychee production. Mr. Lin Bo, General Manager of Guangdong Zefengyuan Agricultural Products Co., Ltd. in Maoming, Guangdong, a key lychee production region, explained that heavy rains in late April in Guangdong have significantly hampered production, leading to a substantial decrease.
Mr. Lin attributed the decline to various factors. He mentioned that inadequate temperature accumulation from October to December affected flower bud differentiation, compounded by adverse cold weather during flowering. Subsequent heavy rains in late April further exacerbated the situation, prompting an additional reduction in production. He estimates an overall reduction of 60% in lychee production this year. Similar challenges are observed in Vietnam, another significant lychee-producing region with a climate akin to Guangdong's.
Mr. Lin noted that different lychee varieties experience varying degrees of yield reduction. Baitangyao and Feizixiao have relatively higher yields, whereas Guiwei, Nuomici, Xianjinfeng, and others have seen significant decreases. Guiwei's output, for instance, has plummeted to less than 10% of its usual production.
The substantial production cuts have led to a considerable spike in prices. Varieties such as Heiye, Baitangyao, and Feizixiao have seen their prices double, with even more affected varieties experiencing higher price hikes.
Despite the challenges, Zefengyuan began exporting lychees last month via air to markets like Canada, the Netherlands, and Indonesia. Sea freight operations will commence this week, alongside ongoing air shipments. Mr. Lin highlighted that export prices have risen compared to previous years, with some orders experiencing decreased purchase volumes. However, the response from overseas markets has been generally positive. Additionally, Zefengyuan has tapped into new export markets like Russia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, doubling overall export orders.
Regarding quality, Mr. Lin reassured that despite the production decline, fruit farmers have taken extra care of the lychees, maintaining their quality and taste similar to previous years.
Zefengyuan specializes in growing and selling lychees, longans, and other fruits. Its lychee export brands, including "Xiazhili," "Zefengyuan," and "Super Fruta" (a collaboration with French partners), are exported to various regions worldwide, including Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, the Middle East, Africa, and RCEP member regions."
For more information: