Vietnam's lychee exports to China experienced a notable downturn in the first half of 2024, recording a nearly 62% decrease to US$14.5 million. This decline is attributed to a significant reduction in supply following a poor harvest season. Lychee, predominantly cultivated in the northern provinces of Hai Duong and Bac Giang between April and June, faced a challenging year.
The Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association highlighted that the total production of lychee dropped to nearly 200,000 tons, a 50% decrease from the previous year. Specifically, Bac Giang Province reported a 50% decrease in output to 100,000 tons, while Hai Duong Province's production declined by 23% year-on-year to 45,000 tons. The adverse impact on the harvest was unprecedented, as noted by Le Ba Thanh, deputy director of the Bac Giang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Despite the reduced harvest, demand remained high, with Bac Giang consuming over 85,700 tons of lychees by the end of June. The scarcity of lychees led to a tripling of the fruit's price by the end of its season in June to VND180,000 (US$7.1) per kilogram, with prices for rarer varieties reaching up to VND360,000 per kilogram. Consequently, the fruit's availability in southern supermarkets was limited to less than a month. Overall, Vietnam's lychee exports in the first half fell 46% year-on-year to $23.6 million, with shipments to Japan and the U.K. also experiencing declines of 4% and 16%, respectively.
Source: e.vnexpress.net