Muskmelon production areas in Hainan suffered from many typhoons and heavy rainfall as well as low temperatures early in the muskmelon season. This means the muskmelons were not able to accumulate as much sugar as usual. That is why the muskmelons are not as sweet as in previous years.
The second harvest of muskmelons is currently on sale and the production season will last until the end of March. Ms. Wang of Shenzhen Xiyu Huaguoshan Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. recently talked about the conditions in muskmelon production areas and muskmelon markets.
"As for the price, there has been an excessive price rise in the muskmelon market in the last few days. The price in production areas nearly doubled in comparison with this time last year. The price is higher than it was in the last two or three years.
"There are two main reasons for the price rise: first, the production volume is smaller because of extreme weather conditions in domestic production areas. There is far more market demand than market supply. Second, the pandemic creates obstacles for the import of muskmelons from Southeast Asia. The import volume of Southeast Asian muskmelons declined and the price went up."
China mainly imports muskmelon from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam. "Hainan grows premium muskmelons. Southeast Asian muskmelons are staple products. They arrive on the Chinese market in huge volumes. They have a significant impact on the the market conditions and price developments in the Chinese market.
"Myanmar supplies the Chinese market with a huge volume of muskmelons. Many of the muskmelon plantations are rented and managed by Chinese companies, and on many occasions the labor comes from China as well. Many labor migrants left Myanmar after the outbreak of Covid-19, and they have not yet returned. That is why the overall surface area devoted to muskmelon plantation in Myanmar declined this year. Some plantations have come to a complete halt. Furthermore, the political turmoil in Myanmar has brought export to a near standstill."
According to Ms. Wang, Hainan usually produces two harvests. The first harvest was relatively small because of extreme weather conditions. The balance between supply and demand was lost. Some farmers even considered following the second harvest with a third to extend the season. This year the peak of the Hainan muskmelon sales season falls in July and August.
"We will stop planting after our second harvest enters the market. We do this to maintain soil fertility and product quality. After the season in Hainan ends, the core of muskmelon production shifts to Anhui," said Ms. Wang.
When asked about market trends in the remainder of the season, Ms. Wang replied, "Muskmelon plantation in Anhui, Henan, and Shandong primarily takes place in greenhouses. The overall surface area devoted to muskmelon plantation is relatively small and the production season is short. The peak period of muskmelon sales falls in April and May.
"They supply the market in the brief window between the muskmelon seasons in Xinjiang and Hainan. The high price is expected to last throughout March and April, but then decline when the muskmelons from Anhui, Henan, Shandong, and later Xinjiang, enter the market in large volumes. The price is then expected to come down again."
For more information:
Ms. Wang Qi
Korla Xiyu Huaguoshan Specialized Agricultural Coop
Shenzhen Xiyu Huaguoshan Agricultural Development Co., Ltd.
Tel.: (+86) 136 0269 3566
E-mail: [email protected]
