Increasing the Brazilian Lychee Production: A Strategy Based on the Experience of the Largest Producer Countries

In Brazil, the fruit sector, including exotic fruits such as lychee, has great potential. In 2020, it ranked third in the world, with a 5.4% share. The objective of this research was to identify, analyze, and describe the lychee value chain in Brazil in order to compare it with that of the main producers in the world. Data of lychee production and the multiple linear regression technique were used to identify the competitiveness factor of the main lychee-producing countries, India, China, and Vietnam. The lychee value chain in Brazil was developed from secondary sources in order to compare it with these producing countries. The results show that the main competitiveness factor for China is the price; for India, the quantity produced; and for Brazil, the planted area. In India, most of the lychee produced is for domestic consumption; in China, it is for export; and Vietnam exports its production to China. Given these characteristics of the global lychee market, a production strategy to insert Brazil into this market should consider increases of 20% in the planted area and 35% in production every five years, over a period of 30 years, to make Brazil the sixth largest lychee producer in the world.