The lychee season, discussing exports
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Lychee is a characteristic fruit of the Northern region, a seasonal fruit that is only harvested during certain times. In the scorching hot summer days, amidst the singing of cicadas in the fields, lychees ripen to a vibrant red color in the long- standing orchards.
Potential markets for lychees
When it comes to lychees, not every region can
grow and yield this special type of fruit, and the
unique advantages of this tree seem to have not
fully realized its true value for the land it is grown in.
In 2022, Vietnam’s total lychee production was
estimated at around 320,000 tons. Bac Giang
province alone accounted for an estimated 180,000
tons of lychees, with 40% being exported mainly to
the Chinese market.
An interesting comparison is that if a cart carrying
10kg of lychees is exported to Japan, the seller
can sell it for 4 million Vietnamese dong. However,
if sold in major cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi,
or Hue, the highest price would only reach 45,000
dong per kilogram. When purchased directly from
the orchards, traders pay around 7,000 to 8,000
dong per kilogram. Sometimes, the price is so low
that farmers don’t even bother harvesting or calling
traders to come and buy.
Exporting lychees to Japan requires strict quality
supervision. In the extensive Bac Giang region, only
37 planting areas have been granted approval
for the Japanese market, covering an area of 300
hectares and producing about 2,500 tons.
Usually, all shipments from Vietnam have to
undergo rigorous testing by Japanese authorities,
with the permitted maximum residue level of plant
protection substances being only 0.01 mg/kg. That
standard is nearly negligible in terms of residue
levels.
Quality of fruits and the awareness of growers
The VietGAP certification is lower than the
GlobalGAP standard, but the way farmers and the
monitoring of that certification meet the standards
is also not necessarily satistactory.
Ensuring quality and standards through
monitoring is challenging, especially without
the consciousness of the farmers themselves,
particularly in a demanding market like Japan.
Japan, with its temperate climate, is not suitable
for growing lychees. However, the Japanese
have a fondness for lychees, considering them a
premium commodity sold at high prices. To export
lychees to this market, stringent requirements
must be met. Lychees must have a rich, sweet
taste, be juicy and fragrant, and have a bright,
uniform, and blush pink color on the outside.
Each lychee fruit, when cut horizontally, must
meet the prescribed diameter agreed upon by
the businesses, usually not less than 25mm. A
1kg pack should contain 25-30 lychee fruits. The
stem is carefully cut to limit bacterial invasion and
maintain the quality of the fruit.
The challenge lies in the fact that lychees from
Vietnam are highly regarded in terms of freshness,
taste, color, and even weight compared to lychees
from China and Taiwan. However, in a demanding
market like Japan, the most important criterion is
the residue of plant protection substances in each
kilogram of lychees.
Vietnamese enterprises are gradually
building brands and promoting lychee
products in the Japanese market. This
started in 2020 when lychees were
introduced in the AEON supermarket chain
in Japan. With the cooperation of lychee
growers and the support of the Ministry of
Industry and Trade, there have been many
promotional activities and collaborations
with Japan for lychee exports.
For a long time, farmers in Hai Duong
and Bac Giang provinces have been
encouraged by the government to switch
from planting rice twice a year to cultivating
long-term crops such as lychee, combined
with aquaculture and poultry farming, in
order to increase their income. Although
lychee trees are naturally suited to this
region, growing lychees still carries risks
as they can only be harvested once a year
and are susceptible to weather conditions.
In some years, the trees may not bear fruit,
adding further difficulties for farmers who
are already facing challenges. When there
is a good harvest, the selling price may not
be high. How can lychees bring high value
and establish a brand is a problem not only
for farmers and businesses but also for the
entire agricultural supply chain.
Farmers in Bac Giang have become aware of this
issue. The whole village has purchased garlic, chili,
ginger to ferment together with alcohol, lime, and
some other biological preparations to protect the
trees from pests and diseases, resulting in sweet
and visually appealing fruits without the presence
of harmful chemicals. Even caring for the trees
and eliminating weeds requires meticulous
work. Farmers employ manual methods instead
of chemical herbicides and use well water for
irrigation.
The Vietnamese Trade Office set up a booth
to give away free lychees to attendees at the
Vietnam Festival in Japan held in Yoyogi Park,
Tokyo. Japanese companies have also visited
lychee-growing areas to plan for purchasing and
exporting. In addition to exporting fresh lychees,
localities and businesses should consider value-
added chains, such as lychee fermentation
for juice, wine production, drying, and the
manufacture of beauty products, to diversify
lychee products and enhance their economic
value.
