Prices for litchis in Europe and the Middle East could remain higher for longer this year as a result of South Africa's lean harvest. Operating with very tight availability, exporters are flying out as much litchis as they can to Europe and the Middle East before the arrival of the first vessel carrying Madagascar's litchis; the number of pallets underway to Europe is unknown until its arrival on 5 December.
Various litchi industry roleplayers have confirmed a loss of 40% to 50% in some litchi orchards.
"It started with a winter that wasn't cold enough, so the trees couldn't flower as they should," says Lean van Schalkwyk, marketing manager at Neofresh, major litchi producer in South Africa and Mozambique. Fruit set was poor on the already reduced number of flowers, he adds, coupled with cold damage during July and then searingly hot temperatures during the early spring, resulting in significant fruit drop (especially on early varieties) and sunburn damage.
"It's a fairly nervewracking start to the season," remarks Ben Hallliday of AgriLink, an air freighter that has been transporting litchis to Europe and the Middle East for seven weeks. "We're hoping to fly out the first volumes to the United States this weekend but it's challenging to amass the required volumes."
The coming week will be a critical one in litchi packhouses, as it becomes clear how much exportable fruit remains. In Europe and the Middle East the pull for litchis is strong, and prices are favourable, Van Schalkwyk says. "This year, with our low volumes, litchi prices will hopefully remain higher than the norm."
South African consumers need to ready themselves for a litchi shortage this season.
For more information:
Lean van Schalkwyk
Neofresh
Tel: +27 13 590 0947
https://neofresh.net/
Ben Halliday
AgriLink
E-mail: [email protected]
https://www.agrilink.co.za/