Hainan litchis get ready for harvest season

As the harvest season for litchi — also known as lychee — is around the corner, Hainan province, one of the major litchi producing regions in China, is holding activities to promote the sales of the fruit.

The province is estimated to have a total output of around 190,000 tons of lichi this year, a reduction of 20 percent, Hainan Daily reported.

Due to the impact of weather, China, the world's largest litchi producer, is expected to see litchi production reduced by nearly 40 percent this year, according to Chen Houbin, a chief scientist of the National Litchi Longan Industrial Technology System.

The annual production of litchi in Haikou is expected to be 77,000 tons, and the total sales volume is expected to be 1.3 billion yuan ($180 million).

During a trade fair held on Friday in the city, the volcano litchi, a Feizixiao variety, saw sale orders reach about 71,400 tons, accounting for 92.7 percent of this year's total production.

Haikou has made efforts to ensure the volcano litchi remain fresh throughout the distribution process. It established a production and marketing docking mechanism to facilitate the sharing of supply and demand information for the litchi.

It also integrates the storage preservation cold chain facilities to enhance logistics efficiency and maintain the freshness of the litchi fruits.

Furthermore, the city coordinates with air cargo enterprises and express delivery companies to guarantee the timely delivery.

Haikou opened up a green channel for litchi transport vehicles, too.

The Hainan Harbor & Shipping Holding Corporation introduced a litchi truck special ship transport class, operating daily from May 10 to May 31, dedicated to ensuring the swift and secure transport of litchi to their destination.

Lingshui Li autonomous county also held a trade event on Friday, which brought together international suppliers.

"We expect to have a production of more than 18,000 tons of litchi this year, with the projected total output value of about 434 million yuan," said Fan Xiancai, the deputy head of the county.

"Lingshui litchi is predominantly sold in major metropolises such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Shenzhen and Shenyang, and exported to countries and regions like the United States, Canada, Japan and Hong Kong," he added.

Yu Zhongliang, the head of China business at Moscow LIDA International Logistics, noted that the rise of litchi demand in Russia can be attributed to the efficient utilization of cold chain technology, which ensures that the litchi retains its freshness and flavor during transport.

"Thanks to advancements in automobile logistics, litchi from Hainan can now be swiftly transported to major Russian cities like Moscow, St Petersburg, and beyond. This supply chain allows for a constant flow of litchi to Russian consumers, leading to quick sell-outs and high demand for this delectable fruit," he said.