China, the leading producer and consumer of lychees, is witnessing a significant decline in its lychee harvest due to extreme weather conditions. The southern province of Guangdong, responsible for about half of the country's lychee production, experienced an unusually warm winter and heavy spring rains, leading to a substantial decrease in output. Consequently, lychee prices have surged.
Last year, China produced 3.1 million tons of lychees, but this year's forecast suggests a reduction to approximately 1.65 to 1.75 million tons, according to Chen Houbin, a professor at South China Agricultural University. The province of Guangdong recorded record rainfall in April, with precipitation nearly three times the average. This weather pattern is part of broader challenges facing Chinese agriculture due to climate change, affecting not only lychee harvests but also other crops and agricultural activities.
The China Meteorological Center has issued warnings about potential flooding in low-lying areas, which could disrupt the harvest of rapeseed and the growth of early rice crops. In response to rising lychee prices and public concern, authorities in Guangdong have released over 200 tons of lychees frozen from the previous year to the market. Despite these efforts, lychee prices remain high, affecting not only domestic consumers but also international markets, as China exported over 10,000 tons of the fruit in 2022.
Source: bnnbloomberg.ca