Farmers harvest lychees in Bac Giang Province
In Luc Ngan District of Bac Giang Province, Vietnam’s largest lychee-growing area, farm-gate prices now range from VND 8,000 to 20,000 per kilogram (approximately USD 0.31 to 0.78), depending on quality. Premium lots with traceable origin codes and attractive packaging fetch up to VND 25,000 to 30,000 per kilogram, still significantly lower than early-season prices of VND 35,000 to 40,000.
Nguyen Duy Ha, a farmer in Bac Giang, said his family’s lychee orchard has produced a high yield this year with good fruit quality. However, prices have dropped by a third compared to last year, now at just VND 12,000 per kilogram. With more than one hectare of fruit ready for harvest, Ha estimated they would break even or incur losses if prices remain unchanged.
According to Ha, the production cost per kilo of lychee ranges from VND 8,000 to 12,000, including fertiliser, pesticides, labour and packaging. At current prices around VND 10,000, many households are making no profit or even taking losses if they cannot sell quickly.
In another major lychee-growing region, Thanh Ha District in Hai Duong Province, prices have also plummeted. Farmer Phan Thi Lan said she was still selling lychees for VND 30,000 to 35,000 per kilo two weeks ago. “Now that peak harvest season has arrived, supply has surged and prices have dropped to around VND 10,000 to 12,000 per kilogram,” she said.
Lychee exports have also declined sharply. In the first four months of 2025, Vietnam’s lychee export revenue reached just USD 3.5 million, down 26.6 percent year on year. While shipments to the US, Taiwan and China rose between 25 and 116 percent, exports to 17 other markets fell significantly, with the Netherlands down 84 percent and France 40 percent.
The Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association attributed the slump to rising transportation costs due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
China, Vietnam’s largest buyer, has increased lychee imports this year to meet rising demand. However, Chinese-grown lychees with better appearance and consistency have been prioritised for international markets, putting more pressure on Vietnamese lychees that are still lagging in quality and packaging.
Vietnam’s total lychee output this year is estimated at 250,000 tonnes, up 25 percent from 2024, with Bac Giang accounting for 165,000 tonnes. However, weak demand has caused prices to tumble. The province has only sold around 13,000 tonnes so far.
To address the situation, Bac Giang’s Department of Industry and Trade is promoting deep-processing solutions such as drying, juicing and freezing to diversify sales channels.
