China is the largest producer of lychees in the world, both in terms of surface area devoted to lychee plantation and annual production volume. Around 90% of the global lychee production volume comes from China. Other producers include Vietnam, and India.
The main production areas in China are located in Guangxi, Guangdong, and Hainan and their production volumes grow larger every year. The lychee they produce include Heiye, Feizixiao, Huaizhi, Guiwei, and Baitangying lychee. This year the Chinese lychee harvest was abundant. The overall production volume expanded by 10% in comparison with last year. That is mainly because the overall surface area devoted to lychee plantation is larger than last year. At the moment, market supply primarily comes from production areas in Guangdong. The product quality of Guangdong lychee is better than last season. The peak period of their supply season begins in May and continues until July.
"This year we enjoyed an abundant harvest. The production volume is huge and there are many lychee varieties for consumers to choose from. The market price is under a lot of pressure. In the end, the current price is not as good as last year. That is why lychee importers are not likely to receive their ideal price. The import lychee currently in the Chinese market primarily come from Vietnam." This is according to Mr. Cheng Hongshuai, CEO of Pingxiang City Huaxiang Import Trade Co., Ltd.
Mr. Cheng further explained, "Vietnamese lychees still have an advantage in the Chinese market compared to domestic lychee. First, the Vietnamese lychee export season begins every year in March, which is much earlier than the domestic supply season. Vietnam steps into an open window in the Chinese lychee market. Second, the natural environment of Vietnam is more suitable to lychee cultivation, which means that the flavor of Vietnamese lychee is better and the product quality more reliable. Third, as Chinese consumers enjoy higher living standards, they also show more interest in imported fruits."
This is the time of year when Vietnam exports large volumes of lychee to China, but the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has made customs procedures more complicated. Most border ports do not allow trucks to pass through. Instead, the products spend up to several days at the customs office before they are cleared. "These procedures take much longer than regular procedures, which is not good for easily-spoiled fruit such as lychee. However, we trust that these measures will only last until the outbreak of Covid-19 is fully under control, and the delays will then be quickly resolved," said Mr. Cheng.
For more information:
Mr. Cheng Hongshuai - CEO
Pingxiang City Huaxiang Import and Export Trade Co., Ltd.
Tel.: +86 771 8526 333
Mobile: +86 137 3791 8386