In July, the peak period for lychee sales in China has passed, and the 2024 lychee season is nearing its end. Harvesting has concluded in most production areas, with the latest varieties available for about another half month. Subsequently, the supply of lychees will decrease significantly. The lychee season in Guangxi is nearly over, while Guangdong and Vietnam lychees will dominate the market for the remaining period. Simultaneously, domestic longans are beginning to appear in small quantities to replace lychees in the market.
The lychee supply in the fruit market is dwindling, and prices are climbing. Due to shortages in some markets, wholesale lychee prices have surged. Currently, only varieties such as Guiwei, Honghua, and Heiye are still available, but they are expected to be phased out by mid-July. For instance, the market price of Guiwei lychees at Jiaxing Fruit Market has risen to ¥36-40 per kilogram.
This year has been an off-year for lychee production, with Hainan, Guangdong, and Guangxi experiencing weather-related reductions in yield. As a result, lychee prices this season are higher than last year. The 2024 lychee prices have been volatile.
Hainan lychees hit the market early, with a small supply appearing in late March. Due to low volume, high costs, and reduced production, early prices for Guihuaxiang lychees were prohibitive, with wholesale prices at ¥120-140 per kilogram and retail prices reaching ¥160-200 per kilogram. After May Day, prices in Hainan, Guangdong, and Guangxi rose together. Despite the production drop this year, prices for high-volume varieties like Feizixiao remained disappointing, occasionally dropping to single digits per kilogram. High origin prices, combined with low market sales and prices, resulted in losses for many merchants.
By early June, Hainan's lychee production had nearly ended, making Guangdong and Guangxi lychees the market's mainstay. Now in July, these lychees are also nearing the end of their season, and prices have rebounded. With decreasing market volume, prices are likely to surge, although fruit loss will increase, leading to minimal profits for most merchants. In about ten days to two weeks, the lychee production season will conclude.
Source: FreshSaga