Australian Lychee Growers Association are members of Plant Health Australia and signatories to the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed. Their responsibilities include:
- biosecurity planning and implementation at the national and farm levels
- liaising with federal and state governments on trade issues
- funding and supporting biosecurity initiatives
- participating in national committees and response efforts in an emergency.
Industry overview
In 2016–17, lychee production was valued at $26.7 million (LVP), with exports worth $5.6 million.
Annual production continues to range between 2,250 to 3,500 tonnes, depending on climatic and seasonal conditions.
There are many varieties of lychee grown in Queensland and NSW, although the Kwai Mai Pink lychee is the most popular and widely grown variety and is a good annual yielding variety for export and domestic markets. A number of larger producers are now choosing to incorporate and plant some of the newer Chinese varieties of Chompogo, Erdon Lee and Baitangying in their orchards.
Lychees are produced as a single annual crop with a harvest period from late October (north Queensland) to March (northern NSW). This gives the Australian lychee season one of the world’s longest production periods as well as a counter-seasonal supply to most other lychee producing countries.
Lychee exports have experienced strong growth compared with other tropical fruits, with some 18 per cent of production being exported in 2017–18. Hong Kong is officially the largest market for Australian lychees, accounting for a little over half of Australia’s exports for 2017–18. Exports to the United Arab Emirates are less than half of that to Hong Kong but this market is showing very strong growth, followed by New Zealand, Singapore, Canada and the United States.
The lychee industry is covered by version 1.0 of the lychee biosecurity plan.
Value of production and distribution
Annual value of lychee production, 2009–17
Distribution of lychee production by state and territory, 2016–17 (based on LVP)
Biosecurity plans, manuals and resources
Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Lychee Industry
Biosecurity planning provides a mechanism for the lychee industry, government and other relevant stakeholders to assess current biosecurity practices and future biosecurity needs. Planning identifies procedures that can be put in place to reduce the chance of pests reaching our borders or minimise the impact if a pest incursion occurs.
The Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Lychee Industry outlines key threats to the industry, risk mitigation plans, identification and categorisation of exotic pests and contingency plans. For a copy, please contact PHA on 02 6215 7700 or email [email protected].
