From the end of June onwards, longan from 8 northern provinces of Thailand (Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Lampang, Tak, Phra Nang and Nam) will start to enter the market, accounting for 70-80% of production.
The 2nd Northern Economic Fruit Data Survey, jointly conducted by the Northern Information System and Logistics Development Group, Office of Agricultural Economics, Thailand, found that the longan planting area in 8 northern provinces is 1,254,937 rai (1 rai = 2.4 acres), a decrease of 14,407 rai (a decrease of 1.13%) from last year. The main reason is that farmers cut down old and low-yielding longan trees and planted other crops such as rubber, durian, mango and animal feed corn. The total production is 978,974 tons, an increase of 29,501 tons (a 3%) from last year. The longan production season runs from late June to September. The highest production in August was approximately 366,273 tons, accounting for 37% of the total production.
Longan production in the rainy season of 2024 was 637,501 tons, an increase of 30,601 tons (an increase of 5%) from the previous year due to better longan prices last year, which encouraged farmers to manage their orchards carefully and use potassium chlorate for flowering. Although the hot weather in March and April 2024 caused longan trees to lack water and reduced fruit production in some areas, the overall production still increased due to more flowering and fruiting than last year. Longan production in the non-rainy season was 341,473 tons, 1,100 tons less than last year (a decrease of 0.32%). The main reason for the decrease in production was the drought and hot weather, which caused longan trees to grow poorly in some areas, making it impossible to use potassium chlorate for flowering.
As of May 2024, off-season longans were available in 8 northern provinces. (Off-season longan is available on the market from January to May of the following year and October to December) By grade, fresh longan bunch, grade AA 25 baht/kg, loose fruit, grade AA 22 baht/kg, grade A 15 baht/kg, grade B 10 baht/kg, and grade C 3 baht/kg. Due to farmers' careful management, the quality of longan has improved. It is expected that the longan price will remain stable when the longan harvest in the rainy season starts in June 2024. The main export markets for longan from the north of Thailand are China, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Although the Chinese market has reopened, strict disease and pest screening measures are still in place at the import gate.
Demand for longan products from Thai companies is mostly concentrated in processing into peeled dried longan, golden dried longan pulp, concentrated longan, and canned longan. Totaling 480,725 tons, Thailand's domestic fresh fruit consumption is expected to be 60,724 tons, and fresh fruit exports are expected to be 96,053 tons. The centralized registration in August may affect longan prices. Relevant departments have prepared management plans and market linkages to support the centralized registration period in August. Measures include selling fresh fruits through various channels, such as modern trade, cooperative networks, community enterprises, agricultural banks, postal services, and online markets. The government will support a management fee of 5 baht per kilogram for cooperatives participating in the longan distribution project and establish a cooperative development fund to collect longan products. In addition, the government will provide various support measures for longan growers, including interest subsidies.
Source: guojiguoshu
