2019 lychee production drop sends Yu He Bao lychee prices soaring, auction exceeds 300 yuan per kilogram
Affected by this year's warm winter, alternate-year fruit drop in lychees and other factors, the Agriculture and Food Agency estimates this year's total lychee production at 29,250 metric tons, a 61% decrease from the normal-year output. According to the agricultural products wholesale market price station, the Yu He Bao auction price on the 12th was 307.8 yuan per kilogram, double the price in the same period last year.
According to statistics from the Council of Agriculture, in 2017 (ROC year 106) the total lychee planting area across Taiwan was 9,984 hectares, with production concentrated in Kaohsiung. The Agriculture and Food Agency also estimates that due to insufficient low temperatures this winter, which led to extremely poor flowering rates, and the alternate-year fruit drop characteristic of lychees, although this year's estimated harvested area is 9,838 hectares, comparable to the production area in previous years, this year's total production is estimated to be 63% lower than last year and 61% lower than the normal-year output of 75,224 metric tons.
The Agriculture and Food Agency said that at present the majority of lychee varieties in Taiwan are the Hei Ye variety, accounting for about 70%, followed by the early-maturing Yu He Bao variety at about 20%, with the remaining varieties cultivated on smaller areas. Yao Chih-wang, director of the Southern Branch of the Agriculture and Food Agency, said that affected by the warm winter, poor flowering conditions, and a higher population of lychee leaf miners, this year's fruit set rate for Yu He Bao is about 10% to 20%, a decrease of more than 70% compared with last year, while other varieties have a fruit set rate of only 10%. Huang I-jen, deputy director of the Southern Branch, also said that in addition to reduced production due to climate effects, lychees have a biennial bearing growth characteristic (alternate-year fruit drop), and last year's bumper harvest also led to lower production this year.
Yao Chih-wang said that the Yu He Bao production period runs from late May to early June, and affected by the small volume, last week's average auction price at the Taipei market was 337 yuan, higher than 158 yuan in the same period last year, while this year's export price is 200 yuan per kilogram, also higher than 140 yuan per kilogram last year. Huang I-jen also said that the Yu He Bao currently on the market is mainly grown in Pingtung and is the earliest-ripening lychee in Taiwan, so its price was originally relatively high.
In addition, in response to this year's lychee production reduction due to drought, the Council of Agriculture has also announced that in counties and cities including Taichung City, Changhua County, Nantou County, Yunlin County, Chiayi County, Chiayi City, Tainan City, Kaohsiung City and Pingtung County, certain lychee varieties qualify for cash disaster relief programs.
