2026 Black Leaf Lychee Canning Season Underway: A "Small Year" for Fresh Fruit, A "Quality Year" for Canned Goods

As summer heat settles over the lychee orchards of southern China, our canning lines have officially fired up for the 2026 season. This year's harvest presents a unique picture for our core raw material — the Black Leaf (Heiye) lychee — the variety long prized by the canning industry for its thick flesh and balanced sweetness.

A "Small Year" with Tighter Supply

2026 is widely recognized as a traditional "small year" for lychees across major producing regions. After the record-high yields of 2025, trees have entered a natural rest cycle, resulting in lower overall production nationwide . According to monitoring by the National Lychee Longan Industry Technology System, the national lychee production in 2026 is estimated at approximately 2.31 million tons, marking a 37% decrease from the previous year's output. For Black Leaf lychees specifically, the picture mirrors this trend.In Guangdong, Black Leaf production volumes are notably limited this season, with retail prices reaching around 8 yuan per jin (approximately 500g) — reflecting tighter supply on the fresh market.

Why Black Leaf Lychee for Canning?

Our commitment to quality starts with the right raw material. Black Leaf lychee has long been recognized by China's canning industry as the ideal choice for canned products . Here's why:

· Thick, firm flesh — holds its shape during processing and maintains a pleasing texture after canning .

· Balanced sweetness and acidity — not too sweet to mask the natural aroma, not too tart for a palatable finished product .

· Superior post-processing performance — trials with varieties like Guìwei (Osmanthus Flavor) have shown that Black Leaf delivers better color, texture, and overall quality after the canning process, with added cost advantages

Production Outlook

With our lines running at full capacity, this season's Black Leaf lychee canning campaign is expected to continue for approximately 30 days. Daily output capacity reaches tens of thousands of cans .

Quality Over Quantity

In a "small year," every fruit matters more. Our team remains committed to rigorous quality control at every step — from orchard selection to the final sealed can. We believe that with careful handling and precise processing, the 2026 Black Leaf lychee crop will deliver canned products that preserve the very best of the season.

Stay tuned for updates on product availability and specifications as the season progresses.