Lean van Schalkwyk, marketing director at Neofresh, a lychee producer, highlighted the fluctuating prices of lychees in South Africa, noting that a 2kg carton currently ranges between about $6.70 and $7.20 (R130 to R140). Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Mr Van Schalkwyk attributed the reduced number of flowers on lychees to unexpected temperature drops, frosts and earlier high temperatures. These conditions led to poor fruit set and were exacerbated by cold damage in July and intense heat in early spring, which caused significant fruit drop and sunburn damage.
South African lychees, known for their quality and size, are exported to markets in the United States, the Middle East and the United Kingdom, where they are in high demand. The international market favors lychees with a circumference of at least 34 mm. But South Africa faces strong competition from Madagascar, Mauritius and Reunion. Despite this year’s low yield, it is hoped that lychee prices will remain above average.
Exporters are rushing to ship large volumes of lychees to take advantage of the market before the arrival of the first shipments from Madagascar. Ben Halliday of Agrilink, an air carrier, described the start of the season as challenging due to difficulties in gathering the volumes needed for export to Europe and the Middle East.
The South African Lychee Growers’ Association reports that the total area of lychee plantations in the country stands at 1,360 hectares, an increase from the previous year. The Mauritius cultivar is the most widely planted, followed by McLean’s Red, mainly produced in the Letaba region of Limpopo.
Source : farmer’s weekly
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