On August 25, the People's Committee of Bac Ninh Province held a conference to review the 2025 lychee production and consumption season and to set directions for 2026.

The 2025 lychee season achieved a record output of over 205,400 tons, generating revenue of approximately 245 million USD. However, this year’s harvest coincided with the peak harvest season in China and other Vietnamese localities such as Hai Phong and Hung Yen, intensifying market competition.

Lychees grown under GlobalGAP standards maintained stable prices, ranging from 1.05 to 1.47 USD per kilogram. These certified batches were contracted by exporters early in the season for high-end markets like Japan, the US, Canada, Australia, the EU, and the Middle East, where retail prices ranged between 9 and 23 USD per kilogram.

In contrast, lychees that did not meet VietGAP or GlobalGAP standards and were used for processing (drying, freezing, juicing) fetched only 0.21 to 0.63 USD per kilogram.

In 2025, the domestic market remained the primary consumption channel, absorbing around 127,200 tons, or nearly 62% of total output.

Export volumes reached 78,200 tons, with China accounting for 77,200 tons (98.8% of exports). Only 1.2% of exports, approximately 1,000 tons, went to premium markets.

Despite Bac Ninh lychees being long renowned for their distinctive taste and quality, consumption remains challenging. According to a representative from Sendo Farm, lychees are still primarily sold through traditional markets and are rarely available on e-commerce platforms, limiting access to distant consumers.

Concerns about quality, origin, and fluctuating prices during peak season, driven by an oversupply and unstable outlets, continue to hurt farmers’ profits.

Proposal to develop agricultural processing industrial zones

To expand exports, especially to demanding markets, Bac Ninh has ramped up cultivation areas certified for international standards. In 2025, the province had 17,317 hectares certified under VietGAP (up 1,577 hectares from 2024) and 173 hectares under GlobalGAP (up 91 hectares). It also continued to implement a 10-hectare organic lychee model in Chu ward.

While Bac Ninh lychees have been successfully exported to several premium markets, many cooperatives and businesses still struggle with market access, negotiation, and securing export deals.

A major obstacle is the lack of irradiation facilities in northern Vietnam, along with inadequate preservation technology and long shipping distances to key markets like the US, EU, Japan, and Australia. These challenges hinder export competitiveness.

Additionally, competition from countries like China, Mexico, and Thailand - whose harvests overlap with Vietnam’s - adds pressure. High air freight costs relative to product value make it difficult for lychees to stay price competitive.

Some companies also reported issues with mold affecting export quality. Furthermore, gaps in phytosanitary protocols have caused shipments to be rejected, even after certification, due to exporters’ limited understanding of inspection requirements.

To resolve these bottlenecks, officials from Luc Ngan district proposed establishing a 150-hectare industrial zone to attract investments in deep-processing agricultural products, including lychees. They also recommended building a dedicated warehouse and logistics system for fresh produce storage.

Earlier, at a planning conference for safe agricultural production and traceability, Pham Van Thinh, Vice Chairman of the Bac Ninh People's Committee, directed authorities to research and propose the development of a fruit irradiation center in the province, slated to begin operation by 2026.

Bao Khanh