This is the time of year when large volumes of oranges and tangerines enter the Chinese market. Various production areas across the country gradually begin their supply period. The supply volume of Orri mandarins from Bingchuan is gradually growing.
Mr. Zhang of Yunnan Chunjing E-Commerce Co., Ltd. recently analysed current conditions in the Chinese citrus market: "The Orri mandarins from Bingchuan enter the Chinese market every year around the middle of March, provided that the weather conditions are regular. The harvest season generally lasts until the end of May, but some of the orchards will have trees that bear fruit until the end of June. Our orchards are in production areas where the Orri mandarins are harvested relatively late in the season. In other production areas the Orri mandarins traditionally enter the market around Chinese Spring Festival [25 January, 2020].
"Our Orri mandarins only enter the market in the middle of March. Although we still have plenty of trees with mature mandarins, we also already have trees in bloom. These trees will produce fruit for the next production season. This is a common feature of Orri plantations, that some trees bear fruit while others already grow flowers. Next month there will only be fruit on the trees. In other words, this year's fruit is hanging next to next year's fruit."
"The Orri mandarins only just entered the market and large volumes remain to be harvested. The sales volume is currently much lower than around this time last year. The outbreak of the corona virus around Chinese Spring Festival affected the sales conditions of Orri mandarins earlier this season. Furthermore, at that time many production areas across the country supplied the market with Orri mandarins.
"The price of Orri mandarins from Bingchuan is relatively high and next month the overall supply from other production areas will decline, which gives our mandarins a definite advantage in the Chinese market. Our current price (shipping included) is around 7.8-10.8 yuan [1.11-1.53 USD] per 0.5 kg. Whether the price is at the high end or the low end of this price range depends on the size of the mandarins. The price is not likely to rise much in the short term and it is still too early to tell how the market will develop in May and June.
"The production volume was not affected by extreme weather conditions this year. Last year the weather was quite hot and the mandarins suffered from drought. The fruit did not look as good as in previous years. The Orri mandarins from Bingchuan never look very smooth, but they are quite sweet and have a strong flavor because the temperature difference between day and night is significant and the amount of sunshine is more than sufficient. The overall production volume increased this year. This is mainly because farmers expanded the surface area devoted to Orri mandarin plantation and the trees bore larger volumes of fruit."
"The level of our plantation technology is higher than in other Orri mandarin production areas. The orchards are quite crowded because there is more than enough sunshine. The leaves and branches of the crowded trees help to protect the fruit from the sun to avoid the mandarins drying out in the heat.
"We sell our mandarins on Taobao, through WeChat shops, via the Duanshipin App, and through traditional retail channels. Most of our Orri mandarins are sold through wholesale markets in major cities across the country. Bingchuan county also has a regional brand, Bing Fruit, which guarantees a certain level of product quality. The municipal government carries out strict inspection of the fruit that is sold under this brand. As a result of this policy, the Bing Fruit brand achieved solid market recognition and a great return on investment."
For more information:
Zhang Yunxin
Yunnan Chunjing E-Commerce Co., Ltd.
Tel.: +86 13629676149
