A wide variety of Chinese industries are affected by the outbreak of the corona virus. The loss is disastrous. The Chinese citrus industry is also affected. Take the sales of Shatang tangerines for example. Market demand was already in decline and the epidemic makes this situation even worse. Buyers from northern China who travel south to purchase Shatang tangerines find the roads blocked. The price of Shatang tangerines already dropped by 30% or so. The pressure on Shatang tangerine sales is growing.
Feedback from Shatang tangerine production areas in Huaji, Guangning, and Fengkai in Zhaoqing, as well as Fogang in Qingyuan, all counties in Guangdong, are all indicative of the worsening situation. Many orchards have not yet harvested their tangerines because the number of visiting traders is too small. Furthermore, the manpower to harvest the tangerines is hard to come by because of the epidemic. Few people are willing to go out to work and risk exposure.
Surveillance data shows that the price of top-quality Shatang tangerines cost around 2.5 yuan [0.36 USD] per kg in production areas, while the price of mixed-quality (different grades mixed together) Shatang tangerines is around 2 yuan [0.29 USD] per kg. In comparison with last week these prices declined by 31% and 30% respectively. The sales pressure on the remaining Shatang tangerines is growing.
Source: ncw365.com