Many tangerine production areas suffered from hailstorms and heavy rainfall during the previous production season. A significant portion of the tangerines fell from the trees because of these extreme weather conditions.
Some of the many tangerines that were harvested turned out to be of inferior quality, the ratio of return clients was low and the tangerine market was in a poor condition.
Mr. Yi Zhonghua, a spokesperson for Guangxi Ju Zhi Yuan Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., recently talked about current conditions in the Chinese market for Shatang tangerines and Orri mandarins.
Changes in the Chinese tangerine market have been unpredictable since November last year. The challenge has been difficult for farmers and traders alike. "The opening price of Shatang tangerines was around 1.2-1.8 yuan [0.18-0.28 USD] per 0.5 kg when the market opened in December. By the end of Chinese Spring Festival [12 February, 2021] the price had climbed to 2.5-3.5 yuan [0.39-0.54 USD] per 0.5 kg.
"The Shatang tangerine season is slowly coming to an end in March. The price of top-quality tangerines in Lipu, Yongfu, Lingui, and Mengshan is now around 2.3 yuan [0.35 USD] per 0.5 kg, whereas the price of regular tangerines is around 1.3-1.8 yuan [0.20-0.28 USD] per 0.5 kg," said manager Yi.
"The Orri mandarins enter the market in large volumes right around the time when Shatang tangerines withdraw from the market. The overall price of Orri mandarins is lower than around this time last year. Top-quality Orri mandarins from Wuming and Chongzuo costs around 2.8-3.2 yuan [0.43-0.49 USD] per 0.5 kg, whereas regular mandarins cost around 2.5-2.9 yuan [0.39-0.45 USD] per 0.5 kg. Second-grade mandarins cost around 1.5-2 yuan [0.23-0.31 USD] per 0.5 kg. Maogu tangerines are a late season variety and are not that common yet. Their price is relatively stable. Top-quality tangerines from Laibin, Chongzuo, and Wuzhou cost around 3.5-4 yuan [0.54-0.62 USD] per 0.5 kg, whereas regular tangerines cost around 2.9-3.5 yuan [0.45-0.54 USD] per 0.5 kg."
The Wuxian tangerine is a relatively new tangerine variety. The production volume is not that large, but the flavor is unique and sales conditions are quite good. The market for Wuxian tangerines rapidly grows.
According to manager Yi: "A small volume of Wuxian tangerines is already available in the Chinese market, but only in late March will the Wuxian tangerine enter the market in large volumes. The peak period of the sales season will continue until late May. The price of top-quality Wuxian tangerines is currently around 5.5-6.5 yuan [0.85-1 USD] per 0.5 kg, whereas the price of regular tangerines is 3.2-4.8 yuan [0.49-0.74 USD] per 0.5 kg, and the price of second-grade tangerines is around 1.8-2.5 yuan [0.28-0.39 USD] per 0.5 kg."
"This is the third year since we started selling Wuxian tangerines. We expect our sales volume to reach between 500 thousand and 1 million kg. The supply volume is small and that is why the price is high. We mainly sell our Wuxian tangerines via e-commerce platforms in first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. The Wuxian tangerine did well last year, despite the outbreak of Covid-19. The price of premium Wuxian tangerines was around 7-8 yuan [1.08-1.23 USD] per 0.5 kg. That is even higher than in previous years.
"The main reason for the high price was increased consumer demand for healthy fruits that are rich in vitamin C. Consumer demand far exceeded market supply," explained manager Yi. "Consumer power is rapidly recovering from the pandemic. The market is opening up again and we expect the delivery volume of Wuxian tangerines to grow, unless weather conditions worsen."
Wuxian tangerines are primarily targeting the domestic market. The production volume is small and the supply volume is not sufficient for export. Ju Zhi Yuan Agricultural Development aims to expand the overall surface area devoted to Wuxian tangerine plantation in Laibing by 6,667 to 20,000 hectares. The company team hopes to turn the Wuxian tangerine into a regional characteristic product.
For more information:
Mr. Yi Zhonghua - Manager
Guangxi Ju Zhi Yuan Agricultural Development Co., Ltd.
Tel.: +86 18877308149