As many experts had previously predicted, Vietnam’s lychee season this year is considered to be more affected compared to 2025. The lychee output is expected to be only half of last year’s.

What Caused the Drop?

According to a lychee cultivation expert, the main cause of the poor lychee harvest is weather conditions. From November to December 2025, there were very few prolonged and intense cold spells, while this is the period when lychee trees require cold temperatures to induce flowering. The unusually warm winter led to reduced flowering and early vegetative growth in the trees.

In addition, after a record-breaking harvest season in 2025, lychee trees need time to recover, making it possible that the 2027 season could see a return to a more abundant and successful yield. However, the immediate concern remains the significant losses expected for the 2026 lychee crop.

Traders Are Hunting for Lychees!

Contrary to expectations, traders are paying unusually high prices to secure “Vietnamese lychees” this year.
A trader said they have never found it this profitable to sell early-season ripe lychees. In previous years, early-season wholesale prices were typically high only around the middle or beginning of the lunar month, reaching at most about 100,000 VND per kilogram, before quickly dropping to 60,000–70,000 VND per kilogram as supply increased.
However, this year has been different. At the start of the season, prices already ranged from 100,000 to 120,000 VND per kilogram and have consistently remained stable at around 80,000–90,000 VND per kilogram over many days. Prices are also expected to rise again ahead of the 15th day of the third lunar month.

To proactively promote lychee consumption in 2026, local agricultural authorities have been actively connecting with several major enterprises to discuss purchasing demand, quality standards, and distribution plans. Some companies have already signed contracts to buy lychees, helping to secure early market access for the product. Several companies such as Amway, Rồng Đỏ, Toàn Cầu, and Dragon Garden have actively engaged with agricultural authorities to help secure early market outlets.

According to a deputy director of the local agriculture and environment authority, early-season lychees are expected to begin harvesting around May 25, while the main season will start from June 10.

What Is Sunshine Doing for Its Global Partners Amid This Year’s Lychee Scarcity?

With limited expected output this season, we understand the challenges and have prepared two suitable solutions for our partners to consider before entering this year’s lychee market. To support your planning, we propose the following:
Premium programs: Please coordinate early so we can prioritize harvesting and reserve dedicated volumes for your peak sales windows.

Larger volume programs: We can offer flexible options, including mixed grades or slightly smaller fruit sizes, to help maintain supply and competitive pricing.
In addition, we flexibly balance between sea freight and air freight depending on product type, timing requirements, and market conditions: sea freight is used to optimize costs for large-volume shipments; air freight is chosen when speed and product quality need to be prioritized.

We remain committed to transparent communication and practical solutions to support your operations this season. In a volatile market, we strive to be a trusted partner, helping our clients operate with confidence and achieve long-term sustainability.

If you’re looking to find a partner for your premium lychee, Sunshine is ready to support your program end-to-end.