A representative of a large Chinese orange grower and retail company stated that there are market difference, of course, based on differences between production areas and product varieties. The production volume of navel oranges, for example, decreased by around 30% in comparison with the previous production season because of extreme weather conditions. While the production volume of honey pomelo increased because the surface area devoted to honey pomelo plantation expanded this year by around 40% in comparison with last year.
As for production areas, the production volume in some areas significantly decreased. Farmers in Shiyan, Hubei, for example, estimate that the overall production volume in Danjiangkou County will reach 178 thousand tons, which is a decrease of 7.15% in comparison with the same period last year. This development is mainly due to cold weather and frost earlier this year. The overall surface area devoted to orange production in Shiyan, however, reached a record height. In the end, the orange production volume in Yichang Prefecture, Hubei, and in nearby production areas in Hunan, increased.
Although oranges from many production areas enter the market in bulk, the overall market operations remain stable and there are no large fluctuations.
