In March, both the output and quality of Guifei mangoes produced in Hainan, China, gradually stabilized, and prices have returned to normal levels, slightly higher than during the same period in previous years.
"The super typhoon in September last year caused a large number of flowers to drop, reducing early-season mango production. In addition, the high temperatures in the growing regions since the beginning of the year were not conducive to the growth of tropical fruits, resulting in fewer mangoes meeting mid- to high-end quality standards. These factors led to high prices and unstable quality during the early production season, so we postponed supplying customers. The situation has improved since entering March," explained Mr. Chang Zhongjie from Hainan Maosen Nongte Fruit Co., Ltd., which focuses on the mid-to-high-end business gift market for Hainan fruits.
Currently, Guifei mangoes are priced at around ¥8-10 per kilogram, approximately 35% lower than during the early season and close to last year's levels. Mr. Chang added, "If the temperature continues to rise and remain stable, prices may drop slightly, but fluctuations are expected to be minimal."
Mr. Chang noted that the most common Hainan fruits in the business gift market include mangoes, wax apples, yellow dragon fruits, and sugar apples, with mangoes remaining the leading choice.
"The mango category mainly includes Guifei and Jinhuang mangoes. Jinhuang mangoes are more affordable, and their share of sales has been growing. But for customers seeking to reflect high gift value, tree-ripened Guifei mangoes are the top choice. Even though the business gift market has been more cautious in recent years, many customers would rather reduce their order quantities than compromise on choosing Guifei mangoes. We source tree-ripened Guifei mangoes through long-term cooperative partnerships to ensure quality."
"Taste, freshness, and the overall experience are still paramount, but in the past two years, pricing has become an increasingly important consideration. Therefore, in addition to maintaining product quality, we've also been thinking about how to help customers manage costs. For example, after comparative testing, we adjusted our logistics and express delivery methods this year, reducing costs by about 5%-10% per box without affecting the customer experience. In previous years, our 4kg packaged mangoes were not as popular as the 2.5kg packages. However, after these cost adjustments, the 4kg option has become more favored. Customers are looking to maximize profit within their fixed budgets."
Hainan Maosen Nongte Fruits primarily operates a range of seasonal Hainan fruits, focusing on mid-to-high-end business gifts, and also offers customization services for gift packages.