Madagascar’s lychee, an export product

The lychee industry is of significant socio-economic importance to Madagascar and is one of the country’s leading export products. Each year, the island exports approximately 20,000 metric tons of fresh fruit, almost all of which goes to Europe. It generates nearly €30 million in foreign exchange earnings. It directly or indirectly employs more than 100,000 people: growers and harvesters, transporters, and workers at packing facilities.

5th Largest Producer in the World

Madagascar is the world’s fifth-largest producer of lychees and the third-largest exporter. It is also the leading producer in the Southern Hemisphere, with approximately 100,000 metric tons harvested each year. It is also Europe’s leading supplier, with nearly 20,000 metric tons of sulfur-treated lychees shipped by boat each November.

Global Market

The leading producing countries are China, with 2.5 million metric tons in 2020, grown on a total cultivated area of 533,000 hectares. India ranks second with 721,000 metric tons in 2019 on an area of 96,000 hectares, followed by Vietnam, Taiwan, and Madagascar. To a lesser extent, Thailand, South Africa, and the islands of Réunion and Mauritius are also lychee-producing countries.

New Destinations and Processing

With the European market now mature, Malagasy lychee exporters have been exploring new markets for several years, such as the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), Russia, and the United States. In a fluctuating international context, operators are also beginning to explore opportunities for added value through lychee processing.

For more information on the global lychee market, click here.