Maoming, one of China's leading producers of rare tropical fruits in Guangdong province, south China, has exported its first shipment of fresh lychee, a total of 15 tons, to Japan.
Located in the western part of Guangdong province, Maoming, also the country's major lychee producing-area, produces about 300, 000 tons of lychee each year, about one fifth of the world's total.
The first shipment was made on Thursday, and according to an agreement signed early this year between a local exporter and a Japanese importer, Maoming city is expected to export up to 25 tons of fresh lychee each day during the season.
Local lychee producers say that Maoming is expected to produce 350,000 tons of lychee this year thanks to the fine weather.
Local lychee entered the United States market in batches last year for the first time in history.
(China Daily May 20, 2002)
