As April ushers in warmer weather, lychees across various regions are entering the ripening stage. Being the earliest lychee production hub in China, Hainan's lychee market prices are particularly intense this year. In early March, limited quantities of Hainan's extra early lychee varieties such as "Mudanhong," "Kejiyihao," and "Guizaoli" hit the shelves, commanding prices as steep as ¥120-140/kg, reaching historically high levels.
After nearly a month on the market, although there has been a general decline in prices, the early lychees have now stabilized. Today, at the Jiaxing Fruit Market, Hainan's "Guihuaxiang" lychees are priced at ¥50-60/kg, with a slight uptick due to a decrease in arrivals.
Currently, Hainan's "Kejiyihao" lychees are nearing the end of their season, while the volume of Guihuaxiang lychees is gradually increasing. This trend is expected to continue until around mid-April when Feizixiao lychees from northwest Hainan will make their debut. Initially, the price of Hainan Feizixiao lychees is expected to be high. It's anticipated that the volume of Hainan lychees will not significantly increase until at least mid-to-early May, leading to a subsequent drop in prices. The peak season for lychees will likely occur in mid-to-late May when the largest volume of lychees from production areas such as Guangdong and Guangxi enters the market. Consequently, the market is expected to experience a significant price decline in June and July.
This year's lychee production is forecasted to be lower due to adverse weather conditions. Main lychee production regions experienced lower temperatures and increased rainfall in February and March, resulting in a delayed flowering period by nearly 20 days compared to previous years. As a result, the flowering rate in areas like Hainan, Guangdong, and Guangxi has considerably decreased, while regions like Yunnan and Sichuan may fare slightly better in terms of yields.
The reduction in lychee production has already been confirmed, indicating that the market prices for various lychee varieties may surpass last year's prices. In recent years, there has been a noticeable trend towards premium lychee consumption, with consumers increasingly prioritizing quality over price. Despite the higher costs, high-quality fruits are quickly sold out. This year, the proportion of high-quality lychees is expected to be smaller, leading to higher prices for premium products.
Source: FreshSaga