China enjoyed an abundant lychee harvest in 2018. The lychee trees blossomed at a rate of 90%. The production volume set a new record. The price naturally fell when market supply increased. The price fell below 1 yuan [0.14 USD] per 0.5 kg, the lowest it has been in 10 years.
The winter of 2018 was relatively warm and lychee trees did not properly develop flower buds. In addition, the enthusiasm of farmers for lychee production was low and plantation management was shoddy. As a result, the lychee trees are estimated to blossom at rate of only 80% in production areas in Guangdong, Hainan, and Guangxi. Some trees only blossom at a 50% rate. This rate is different for lychee varieties, with Concubine's Smile and White Sugar Jar at regular to low rates, and Flavor of Guilin and Rice Cake lychee trees blossoming at very low rates.
The trees are still in bloom and it is not yet clear how much fruit they will bear. However, since the surface area devoted to lychee plantation is stable and the blossom rate declined, the production volume is estimated to fall by 20%-25% in 2019. The production volume of the more expensive Flavor of Guilin and Rice Cake lychees is expected to shrink more than the production volume of Concubine's Smile and White Sugar Jar lychees. Furthermore, the blossom period was one week late this year, and so the price of lychees is expected to start high when they finally arrive on the market.
Source: Chinabric.com