This season, the export volume of Pinghe Guanxi honey pomelos is expected to reach 180,000 to 200,000 tons. However, the El Niño weather phenomenon, which brought hail during the flowering period and heavy rains during the fruit-setting period, has impacted fruit development, leading to larger fruit sizes compared to last year.
Mr. Tian, Sales Manager of the Domestic Fruit Team at Shandong Zhuoyi Import and Export Co., Ltd., discussed the production conditions: "The El Niño effect led to a 30% reduction in the 2024 honey pomelo output compared to 2023. The market entry was delayed by about 20 days. Fortunately, while quality was not significantly affected, fruit size was. Around 70% of the crop consists of large fruits (over 1.5 kg), while only 30% are smaller fruits (under 1.5 kg), which are preferred by the European market."
Regarding exports, Tian said, "We expect total exports to reach 180,000 to 200,000 tons in 2024. As the fruits ripened on a large scale in early October, water content and Brix levels have met export standards, leading to a steady increase in shipments around National Day. Production prices have dropped by 25% to 30% compared to early September, and traders from various countries are placing bulk orders. Additionally, international shipping costs have returned to a more reasonable range, positively impacting the large-scale export of honey pomelos." He added, "This season, approximately 70% of our exports will go to Europe, 15% to the Middle East, 10% to Southeast Asia, and 5% to other regions, including North America and Africa."
For the domestic market, Tian noted, "The rise of e-commerce is changing the sales landscape for honey pomelos. In addition to traditional wholesale markets and supermarkets, online platforms and live-stream sales at production sites have become important sales channels. However, domestic sales will likely be affected by reduced consumer spending. Wholesalers are more cautious this year, not stocking up heavily for festivals as they did in previous years. Since large-scale ripening has only just begun, total demand in the domestic market remains to be seen."
Reflecting on the years of experience in the industry, Tian shared his insights: "Guanxi honey pomelos from the core production areas are well-regarded for their taste and quality. Early-season low-altitude fruit and late-season high-altitude fruit have always been market favorites. However, in recent years, due to high production volumes and low prices, farmers' annual incomes have been less than ideal, leading to a 10% reduction in total planting area this year." He also explained the shift in fruit types: "Historically, the planting ratio of white to red pomelo was 6:4. Due to rising demand for red-flesh pomelos, which fetch higher prices, many farmers have used grafting techniques to convert white-flesh trees to red-flesh. The current ratio is now 5:5. The output of small white pomelos that meet export standards is very low this year. From late October, the supply of white pomelos available for export will decline, and production prices are expected to rise significantly. By November, red pomelos will dominate honey pomelo exports."
Shandong Zhuoyi Import & Export Co., Ltd. has over 20 years of experience in the fresh fruit, vegetable, and frozen food industries. In the Guanxi region, it operates more than 66 hectares of EU-registered orchard bases and works with over 10 cooperative processing plants. The company holds GAP and BRC certifications and supplies honey pomelos for the DOLE brand, with an annual export volume of around 10,000 tons.