Chinese lychee exports are currently underway. This year has seen a bumper harvest with stable quality, and prices have dropped as the season progresses—factors that generally support the export trade.
Zhangzhou Zhuangyi Agriculture is actively involved in lychee exports. Mr. Tom Yan of the company shared insights on key production areas: "Hainan is the first region to harvest lychees. In the early part of the season, the timing of the market launch was delayed due to a late spring cold and local climate conditions, which also pushed back the start of exports. Additionally, due to the impact of last year's typhoon, Hainan's production is not as high as might be expected in a bumper year, and the harvest window for export-grade fruit is one week shorter than in previous years. While the quality of lychees is stable, the price advantage is not significant."
"In Guangdong, where the Feizixiao variety, responsible for the majority of exports, is grown, production has slightly increased, and harvest prices are slightly lower than in previous years. For other varieties, the increase in production is more pronounced. In Fujian, harvesting began in late June. Given the current production boost, and in contrast to last year's low yields and near-record high prices, this year's prices are expected to be more moderate."
"As production increases, prices across different regions are gradually declining, although the rate of decline this year is slower than in previous seasons."
Tom also noted both new opportunities and challenges in this year's export landscape. "The price of Guiwei lychees in Guangdong has fallen significantly compared to last year, which presents a good export opportunity. However, on the downside, previously stable shipping costs have surged recently, and shipping schedules have become erratic. This has had a significant impact on fruit exports."
Regarding market demand, Tom explained that overall global demand for lychees remains stable, but early U.S. tariff policy created ripples in other markets. "When the tariff situation in the U.S. was still uncertain, many exporters reduced shipments to the U.S. and turned to alternative markets, intensifying competition across the board, including in the fruit trade. Since the tariff adjustments in mid-May, export market competition has gradually normalized."
As for this season's export strategy, Tom emphasized the importance of quality: "Export customers demand high standards—they focus on pesticide residue levels and prefer large-sized lychees. We are therefore placing greater emphasis on quality control. We aim to eliminate fruit grown with growth hormones and are considering the export of lychees at higher ripeness levels. Lychees grown under natural conditions are vastly superior in terms of health benefits, flavor, and shelf life compared to those cultivated unnaturally. Additionally, we are enhancing our grading processes to better meet the specific size and weight preferences of our diverse customer base."