2019 Litchi yield reduction affects the high price of Yuhebao litchi, with an auction price of more than 300 yuan per kilogram.

Affected by such factors as the warm winter this year and litchi fruit falling every other year, the Agriculture and Food Department estimates that the total output of litchi this year is 29250 metric tons, 61% less than the usual annual output. According to the market station of the wholesale agricultural products market, the auction price of jade purse on the 12th was 307.8 yuan per kilogram, double the price of the same period last year.

According to the statistics of the Council of Agriculture, in 106, the planting area of litchi in Taiwan was 9984 hectares, and the producing areas were concentrated in Kaohsiung. The Agriculture and Food Department also estimates that due to the characteristics of insufficient low temperature this winter, resulting in extremely poor flowering rate of litchi and fruit drop every other year, although the estimated harvest area this year is 9838 hectares, which is equal to the production area of previous years, the total output this year is estimated to be 63% lower than that of last year, and 61% lower than the usual annual output of 75224 metric tons.

According to the Agriculture and Food Department, the majority of litchi varieties in Taiwan are black-leaf varieties, accounting for about 70%, followed by the early-maturing variety Yuhebao, which accounts for about 20%, and the cultivation area of other varieties is relatively small. Yao Zhiwang, director of the Southern District Branch of the Agriculture and Food Department, said that due to the influence of warm winter, poor flowering, and more litchi moths, the fruit rate of jade purse this year is about 10% to 20%, which is more than 70% lower than that of last year. The fruit rate of other varieties is only 10%. Huang Yi-Jen, deputy director of the Southern District Branch, also said that apart from the reduction in production due to the climate, litchi has the growth characteristics of large and small years (falling fruit every other year), and last year's bumper harvest also led to less yield this year.

Yao Zhiwang said that the delivery period of Yuhe bags is from the end of May to early June, and it is affected by a small amount. The average auction price in the Taipei market last week was 337 yuan, higher than the 158 yuan in the same period last year, and the export price this year was 200 yuan per kilogram, also higher than last year's 140 yuan per kilogram. Huang Yi-Jen also says that at present, the jade purse, which is mainly grown in Pingtung, is the earliest mature litchi in Taiwan, and its price is already more expensive.

In addition, the Council of Agriculture has also announced the reduction of litchi production this year due to drought, including Taichung City, Changhua County, Nantou County, Yunlin County, Chiayi County, Chiayi City, Tainan City, Kaohsiung City and Pingtung County. Some litchi varieties are cash disaster relief projects.