Booming lychee sales expand trade horizons into fresh marketplaces
Vietnam's lychee industry is experiencing a significant boom, with exports reaching an all-time high of $80 million in the first seven months of the year. This surge is attributed to ample supply, competitive pricing, and increasing overseas demand.
The quality of Vietnam's lychees has improved due to the use of modern preservation technology, extending their freshness. As a result, major export markets such as the US, EU, Australia, and the UK have posted strong growth in imports, ranging from 38% to over 280%.
Enterprises in Vietnam have intensified efforts to develop full supply chains, improving efficiency and maintaining quality. This has allowed them to meet stringent standards required by high-barrier markets such as the US, Japan, and the EU. More growers in Vietnam are now meeting VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards, opening opportunities in these lucrative markets.
China remains the largest importer of Vietnam's lychees, purchasing 71% of total exports worth $57 million. However, this year, the largest importer of Vietnamese lychees is the VIFOCO Import Export Joint Stock Company, which supplies markets including Korea, France, Germany, and even the competitive North American market, with sales at Costco, the largest retailer in North America, marking the first time Vietnamese lychees have entered this market.
Papua New Guinea is the second-largest importer of Vietnam's lychees, spending $6 million on the fruit, a 21-fold increase over the same period last year.
Domestically, farm-gate prices for lychees ranged from VNĐ8,000 to VNĐ20,000 per kilogramme, while at the season's peak, some lychees sold for as much as VNĐ40,000 domestically. Top-tier, well-packaged batches of lychees fetched VNĐ25,000-30,000 domestically.
Bắc Giang alone is projected to produce 165,000 tonnes of lychees this year, making it one of the country's leading growing regions, alongside Hải Dương. The Plant Production and Protection Department expects Vietnam's lychee output to reach 303,000 tonnes this year, a 30% increase over 2024.
The Viet Nam Trade Office in San Francisco has pledged continued support to expand product lines and increase Vietnam's produce in US markets. With the successes achieved so far, it seems that the future of Vietnam's lychee industry is ripe with opportunities. On international shelves, prices for lychees soared to VNĐ200,000-300,000 per kilogramme, reflecting the high demand for this tropical fruit.
