1. ORIGIN, DISTRIBUTION, PRODUCTION AND TRADE

Overview

Lychee is native to the area between southern China, northern Viet Nam and Myanmar, but is now cultivated in many countries with sub-tropical climates. It is very well known in Asia, but relatively rare in Africa, the Middle East and America. Production in the Region accounts for more than 95 percent of world cultivation, at about 2 million tonnes. About 58 percent of the world's population lives here, indicating the importance of the crop to the livelihood of millions of farmers.

Production goes back at least 2,000 years in southern China, but is relatively new in the rest of Asia and the Pacific. Production is greatest in China (1,300,000 tonnes), India (430,000 tonnes), Thailand (80,000 tonnes), Viet Nam (50,000 tonnes), Bangladesh (13,000 tonnes) and Nepal (14,000 tonnes), and less important in the Philippines, Indonesia and Australia. Trade within the Region and to Europe and North America is about 60,000 tonnes. The area under cultivation is expanding with many new orchards in China, Viet Nam and India. Average yields are below 5 tonnes per ha, whereas some better orchards can produce three times this. It can be concluded that there is considerable room for improving productivity.

1.1 Origin and distribution

Lychee or litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) originated in the area between southern China, northern Viet Nam and the Malay Peninsula. This region is one of the three main cradles of domestication and is the origin of several other important horticultural crops, including tea, members of the citrus group, longan and kiwifruit. Numerous wild lychee trees are found in moist forests in Hainan Island from low elevation up to 600 and 1,000 m, and below 500 m in hilly areas of the Leizhou Peninsular, west Guangdong and east Guangxi.

Wild trees are one of the main species in several of these lowland rainforests, and may account for up to 50 percent of the virgin forest composition. Trees often stand together with Vatica astrotricha (green plum), Hopea hainensis, Heritiera parvifolia of the Chinese parasol family, Coelodepas hainanensis, Polyathia laui and Diospyros hainanensis of the persimmon family. Lychee is usually the dominant species in the upper layer of the forest. Wild trees can also be found in parts of Viet Nam north of Hanoi, although there are fewer pockets of natural rainforests than in China.

Wild specimens are similar in general appearance to some cultivars grown in China and Viet Nam. The fruit are edible, but the flesh or aril is relatively thin and sour, and not commercial. The wild types evolved in two directions, the skin segments becoming protruded and long as in “Tai So” and “Kwai May”, or flattened as in “Sum Yee Hong”, “Souey Tung”, “No Mai Chee” and “Wai Chee”.

Lychee has been taken to most of the tropical and sub-tropical world in the last 400 years. The fruit are very popular in China and South and Southeast Asia, but less well known in Africa, the Middle East and America. The commercialization of this species around the world has been slow due to the poor cropping of trees in many areas, as well as the short life of the seeds.

Lychee reached India through Myanmar in 1789, and later on appeared in Bangladesh and Nepal. It has a long history of production in Thailand, but the exact date of its introduction has not been established. It probably arrived from China 150 years ago or perhaps earlier. There are no records of its introduction into the Philippines either, although there is mention of lychee in local literature early in the twentieth century. Seeds were sent to Australia in the 1850s, and marcots imported 70 years later. Thus, the oldest clonal trees are 80 years old. There are older seedling trees in many areas, some perhaps planted 100 years ago. They can carry heavy yields, but are often attacked by birds and other pests.

1.2 Production

The total area under cultivation in China is a staggering 580,000 ha, with production of 1,260,000 tonnes in 1999. In comparison, the output in 1980 was only 50,000 tonnes. Production is expected to rise dramatically in the next few years as thousands of young trees come into bearing, with 35 percent of plantings in Guangdong under five years of age. Before 1990, orchards were generally managed by small landholders, whereas in recent times, large commercial companies have invested in the industry. Trees are distributed in seven provinces, with Guangdong (800,000 tonnes), Guangxi (310,000 tonnes), Fujian (150,000 tonnes) and Hainan (15,000 tonnes), the most important, followed by Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou. The main commercial zone of cultivation occurs from 19° to 24°N latitude, with fruit available from early May to early August (Table 1).

Guangdong produces about 65 percent of the crop (Table 2). There are over 80 counties with lychee orchards, although production is centered around Guangzhou. Lychee ranks second after citrus as the most important fruit crop. In Fujian, citrus and longan are more important. Yields of 10 tonnes per ha are possible in well-managed orchards in Guangdong and Fujian, with average yields of 4 tonnes per ha. Productivity is lower in Guangxi, where lychee is considered a poorer proposition than longan. The Guangdong Litchi Technical Association (GLTA) provides information on production and marketing for various sections of the industry.

Marcots were introduced into northern Taiwan Province of China from mainland China in 1760 and again in 1860. However, commercial production did not begin until the late 1920s, when trees were planted in southern areas away from strong winds of the Pacific Ocean. Since that time, material has been distributed to nearly every district in Taiwan Province of China except the north where it is cold and wet. Most of the plantings are in the central and southern parts of the island where there are large areas of alluvial sandy loams. Yields are higher on these soils than on the mountain slopes. Conditions are ideal for flowering, with mature trees carrying 500 kg of fruit in a season. Total production is 110,000 tonnes from 12,000 ha.

Table 1. Major producing areas in China.

Table 2. Area, production and average yields for the main growing areas in China. (Average yields calculated across several years)

Northern Viet Nam includes part of the area where lychee originated. Wild trees have been found growing at low elevation in the Bavi Mountains and forests in Tamdao (Vinhphuc Province) and Tuyenhoa (Quangbinh Province). Fruit from these areas were reportedly sent to the Emperor of China in Peking (Beijing), several thousand kilometers away, however, commercial production only began in the 1980s. The total area under cultivation is 30,000 ha, with production centered within 40 to 200 km from Hanoi, with Bacgiang (20,250 tonnes), Haiduong (11,600 tonnes) and Quangninh (7,000 tonnes) more important. The industry is based on a single cultivar, Vaitheiu, and thus has a relatively short season from late May to early June.

There are no official records when lychee was introduced into Thailand, although planting material probably came with Chinese traders and seafarers more than 150 years ago. Some of the largest specimens are more than 100 years old. Lychee ranks eleventh in the list of economic fruit crops in Thailand, whereas longan is in the top three.

The main commercial activity is in the north from 300 to 600 m between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai (60 percent of production), Phayao, Nan, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae and Fang in a monsoon climate, with a distinct dry season. Plantings have also been established in the more tropical humid, high-rainfall areas of Chanthaburi, Samut Songkhram, Kanchanaburi and Nakhon Ratchasima, north, east and west of Bangkok. Flowering is more consistent and yields higher in the cooler elevated areas, which account for 90 percent of production. The crop in 2000 was a record 80,000 tonnes from 23,000 ha. Fruit are available from mid-March to mid-June, due to the range in climates and cultivars exploited.

Lychee reached India through Myanmar at the end of the seventeenth century, and the country is now the second largest producer after China. During the last 200 years, it has been distributed to much of the north and northeast of the country. It ranks seventh in area, and ninth in production amongst fruit, and provides income for millions of farmers.

About 75 percent of the crop is produced in northern Bihar (310,000 tonnes), with lychee the most important fruit. The other main areas include West Bengal (36,000 tonnes), Tripura (27,000 tonnes), Assam (17,000 tonnes), Punjab (13,000 tonnes), Uttar Predesh (14,000 tonnes) and Orissa (9,000 tonnes). The total area under cultivation rose from 9,400 ha in 1949 to 56,000 ha in 1998. The latter figure represents 1.5 percent of the area under fruit in India. Both production and yield have increased in recent years, with fruit available from May to June in the different States. Irrigation is necessary for commercial production in many areas, since there is often a long dry season.

Although Nepal is a small country, variations in climate allow the production of a range of fruit including lychee in the plains and low hills from 60 to 950 m. There is increasing interest in the crop with 14,000 tonnes being produced from 3,000 ha. Production is expected to steadily rise in the next few years, as young trees start to bear commercial crops.

The history of lychee in Bangladesh is unclear, although the species was probably introduced from Myanmar in the 1800s. Direct Chinese and Indian imports soon followed. Trees can be found over much of the country, but are especially common in Jessore (1,520 tonnes), Rajshahi (1,380 tonnes), Rangpur (1,100 tonnes) and Chittagong (985 tonnes). Total production is 13,000 tonnes. The fruit are popular, but only available in the market for two months of the year. Cultivation technology is also not well developed, with many young trees dying in the first few years after planting, and low average yields of 2 tonnes per ha.

The Philippines produces many tropical fruit including banana, pineapple, mango and several citrus. Lychee is also grown, but on a much smaller scale. The species was introduced 100 years ago, but has only been considered for commercial expansion fairly recently. The cost of production is high, and the fruit expensive compared with other tropicals. There is an indigenous lychee, Litchi chinensis sub-species philippinensis that grows in more tropical areas up to 500 m, but it is not commercialized.

Various clonal material and seedlings were introduced into the more tropical areas from China and Thailand, but most failed to flower and crop. Commercial plantings are now based in the Cordillera Autonomous Region in the north, especially in Benguet, and in Ilocos Sur at 1,000 to 1,380 m. There are also smaller orchards in Batangas and Laguna, and in Cagayan de Oro.

Lychee is a minor fruit in Indonesia, with smaller plantings than longan or rambutan. Commercial activity is limited to a few districts in Bali (latitude 8°S) at 400 to 700 m. The area has average temperatures of 22° to 31°C, total rainfall of 2,500 to 3,000 mm, and a four month dry season.

Nearly all of the trees are found in home gardens and along the roadside, with few commercial plantings. There are no specific guidelines for orchard management, although some old trees can carry 200 to 300 kg of fruit in a good season. Fruit are mainly sold in local markets and hotels in bamboo baskets, without any post-harvest treatment.

Lychee was introduced into Australia 100 years ago, although commercial production only expanded in the late 1970s. The industry was initially based around Cairns (latitude 17°S) and Ingham in northern Queensland, but later expanded to include much of the eastern coastline down to the middle of New South Wales (latitude 30°S). About 50 percent of production is in north Queensland, 40 percent in central and southern Queensland, and 10 percent in northern New South Wales. Productivity is generally more reliable in central and southern districts. There are 350 growers and 1,500 ha producing 5,000 tonnes worth US$10 million.

About 25 percent of production is exported to Asia, the Pacific and Europe. Improvements in fruit quality, grade standards, quality assurance and the formation of cooperative marketing groups have fostered a successful export market. When properly grown and marketed, returns on a hectare basis more than match those of other tropical crops such as avocado, mango and macadamia. Well-managed orchards can yield 10 tonnes per ha.

1.3 Trade

Most of the fruit grown in Asia and the Pacific are sold close to the areas of production. There is some trade within the Region, and also exports to Europe and North America. The total volume of world trade is 100,000 tonnes per year, with a third of it supplied by South Africa and Madagascar into Europe.

In China, lychee can be used fresh, dried or processed. The peak harvest lasts six weeks from late May to early July, so that in heavy cropping years, up to a third of the production in Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian is dried as “lychee nuts”. Fruit can be dried in the sun or in ovens, with good retention of flavour. Most of the dried fruit are sold locally, with some exported to other countries in the Region. Processing is less important, with only 2,500 tonnes canned, frozen or fermented each year. Frozen and canned fruit are mainly sent to the United States of America (USA), Japan, Republic of Korea and Australia. “Haak Yip” and “Wai Chee” are the main cultivars used for canning.

China shares in the Hong Kong and Singapore markets, and exports 10,000 to 20,000 tonnes per year, although this still only represents 2 percent of its total production. Taiwan Province of China also exports to these countries, as well as to the Philippines (2,000 tonnes), Japan (1,000 tonnes), Singapore (500 tonnes), USA (1,200 tonnes) and Canada (1,000 tonnes). Exports to Europe are virtually non-existent.

The average price for fruit in China is US$2.50 per kg, but ranges from a low of US$0.50 per kg for medium quality fruit in the peak of the season, to US$10 per kg for high quality “No Mai Chee” and “Kwai May” fruit with small seeds. Average prices are US$6 per kg in Singapore, US$6 per kg in the United Kingdom (UK) and US$15 per kg in North America.

About 70 percent of the crop in Viet Nam is sold in local markets, and the remainder exported to China, Hong Kong, other countries in the Region and to Europe. Most of the crop is sold as fresh fruit, with a little dried, canned or juiced. It is surprising that in the peak of the season, fruit are exported to China.

Thailand is the other country in the Region with a significant export industry, although longans are more important. Exports to Malaysia and Singapore are sent by road, while fruit to Hong Kong and Europe by air. Hong Kong mainly takes fresh lychee (9,000 tonnes), while Malaysia and the USA import canned fruit (6,000 tonnes). The total volume is 25,000 tonnes worth US$40 million. In contrast, the longan trade is worth double this. Overall, 10 to 20 percent of the lychees are exported compared with 50 percent of the longans. Thailand has an advantage in the market-place because it produces fruit earlier than China or India. The average price for the farmer is US$1.50 per kg for lychee and is half that for longan. Many growers consider that longan is a better proposition, because yields tend to be heavier than lychee.

The Philippines is a net importer, with the volume increasing by 8 percent per year. Current trade is 1,500 tonnes worth US$500,000.

India is the second largest producer after China, with over 500,000 tonnes in a good year. However, most of the crop is sold locally, with little interest in exports until fairly recently. The development of marketing cooperatives and improvements in post-harvest technology are assisting exports to the Middle East.

The Australian industry is relatively small by international standards, but has a strong export focus. About 30 percent of the crop is exported to Hong Kong, Singapore, Europe, the Pacific and several Arab states. Marketing groups were established in the early 1990s in the major growing areas, and now export half of their production. These groups have a strong commitment to grade standards, post-harvest treatment and quality assurance. There is currently an application to import Chinese fruit into Australia during the off-season. If this application is successful, efforts will be made to send exports from Australian directly into China. At the moment, most of the fruit enter via Hong Kong.

Australia faces strong competition from South Africa and Madagascar in the European market that is worth 30,000 tonnes during the peak of production in the Southern Hemisphere from December to January. However, Australia has some advantage in the market, since it sends fruit by air without the use of sulphur. The bulk of crop from Africa until fairly recently was shipped in reefer containers and treated with sulphur dioxide. The average return to Australian growers after transport and other costs have been deducted is US$3 per kg. Within Australia, nearly all the crop is sold fresh, with processing virtually non-existent. In fact, canned and frozen fruit are imported from Asia.

Most markets prefer large, highly-coloured fruit with sweet flesh and small seeds. Cultivars with a unique flavour, firm flesh and a high proportion of chicken-tongue seeds are highly sought after in Asia, whereas the markets in Europe, the Pacific and North America are less discerning. There are some concerns about sulphur residues from fumigated fruit especially in Europe, prompting this technology to be phased out. There are also barriers to exports into Japan and the USA for some countries such as Australia because of quarantine issues associated with fruit flies.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has developed CODEX standards for exports of fresh lychee. Mature fruit should have a predominantly red skin, with only a small area of green allowed. The diameter of the fruit should be larger than 20 or 25 mm for second class or standard fruit, and larger than 33 mm for extra class fruit. The total soluble solids content should be greater than 18 percent. The residue for sulphur in the flesh should not exceed 10 mg per kg.

Bibliography

Chen, H. B. and Huang, H. B. 2001. China litchi industry: development, achievements and problems. Acta Horticulturae 558, 31-9.

Huang, H. B. and Menzel, C. M. 2001. Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Litchi and Longan, Guangzhou, China. Acta Horticulturae Volume 558.

Gosh, S. P. (2001). World trade in lychee: past, present and future. Acta Horticulturae 558, 23-30.

Menzel, C. M., Simpson, D. R. and Watson, B. J. 1993. Fruits of Tropical Climates. Fruits of the Sapindaceae. In Encyclopedia of Food Science, Food Technology and Nutrition. Academic Press, London pp. 2114-20.

Subhadrabandhu, S. and Yapwattanaphun, C. 2001. Lychee and longan production in Thailand. Acta Horticulturae 558, 49-57.