Lychee crop failure, orders still increase, businesses worry about shortage of export goods

Sharing with Thanh Nien , Ms. Ngo Thi Thu Hong, General Director of Ameii Vietnam Joint Stock Company, said that this enterprise is purchasing early-ripening lychees, the U Hong variety, for export. On May 27, the first batches of lychees will be available in the French and Australian markets.

Currently, the exported lychee is early-ripening lychee, purchased by businesses in Thanh Ha District ( Hai Duong ). Due to the severe crop failure of the main lychee crop, from the beginning of the season, the price of early-ripening lychee has doubled compared to the 2023 crop.

The price of early-ripening lychee in Hai Duong and Bac Giang this year is twice as high as in 2023.

"The price of early-ripening lychees that meet export standards that businesses are buying is 40,000 VND/kg, while at the same time in 2023, the highest price was only 25,000 VND/kg," said Ms. Hong.

According to Ms. Hong, the largest annual lychee export output is the main crop lychee, which begins to be harvested from mid-June. But this year, most of the lychee acreage in Hai Duong and Bac Giang has had a bad harvest, making it difficult for businesses to purchase raw materials.

"The lychee export output from partners has increased by 20% compared to 2023, while currently, we have not yet finalized the price with farmers and are very worried about not having enough goods to deliver to customers," Ms. Hong said.

Opening the lychee export season this year with a 2.5 ton shipment en route to the Middle East, Ms. Do Linh Nham, Deputy General Director of Toan Cau Food Import-Export Company, said that markets are very interested in Vietnamese lychees.

But the difficulty for businesses is that the purchase price of raw materials has increased very high. This year, the export price of fresh lychees offered by this business to partners is more than 6 USD/kg, processed lychees are more than 4 USD/kg, all are twice as high as in 2023 but there are still many orders.

According to Ms. Nham, in the Japanese market, a business has ordered 20 tons of fresh lychee to bring to supermarkets. For processed lychee, Toan Cau Food Import-Export Company has closed an order of 500 - 600 tons.

"Lychee prices are very high, so even though there are many orders, the expected export volume of fresh and processed lychees is only one-third compared to 2023," said Ms. Nham.

Main crop lychee crop fails, high prices, many businesses worry about not having enough goods to export

According to Hai Duong and Bac Giang, early ripening lychees in these localities are being purchased the most for export to the Chinese market. For the main crop lychees, it is expected to be harvested from June 15 to the end of July.

In Bac Giang, the main crop lychee output is estimated at 50,000 tons and many businesses have signed purchase contracts. In Hai Duong, lychee is mainly grown in Thanh Ha district with about 3,200 hectares, of which 1,900 hectares are planted with early lychee, the rest are planted with main crop lychee. The total lychee output of the district is about 20,000 - 22,000 tons, only 50% compared to 2023.

According to lychee growers in Thanh Ha district, lychees in the main season have thick flesh and high sugar content, so in addition to being exported, they are also dried for sale year-round. But this year, due to crop failure, cooperatives will not have dried lychees as the fresh lychee output is not enough for businesses to purchase and export.

Currently, the main lychee growing areas in Bac Giang and Hai Duong are attracting many businesses to survey and take samples for testing to export to high-end markets such as Japan, Australia, the US, the EU...

Sharing with Thanh Nien , Mr. Tran Quang Tan, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Bac Giang province, said that China is currently the largest export market for Bac Giang lychee. To facilitate exports, Bac Giang has worked with road border gates in Lang Son and Lao Cai; directly discussed with Chinese authorities to request creating all favorable conditions for lychee export during the main season.

Also according to Mr. Le Ba Thanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Bac Giang province, to prepare for the export season to high-end markets such as the EU, the US, Australia..., the department and businesses have taken 50 samples for residue analysis; instructed gardeners to prepare well the material conditions, equipment, harvesting tools and prepare to welcome field inspection teams to the growing areas ready for the lychee export season.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vai-thieu-mat-mua-don-hang-van-tang-doanh-nghiep-lo-thieu-hang-xuat-khau-185240524172256073.htm