Yichang’s Lunwan Oranges enter Belarusian market
2026-04-19 19:04:24
By Yan Wanqin.
Lunwan orange, a premium navel variety from Yichang, debuted in the Belarusian market in early April as the city expands its agricultural exports.
The first shipment of Lunwan oranges to Minsk sold out immediately, leading to urgent restocking requests. "Clients are urging us to restock, and we are now shipping around 200 tons per day," said Wang Enzhen, general manager of Yilinghong Ecological Agriculture Development Co., Ltd.
In the first quarter of 2026, Yichang sold 482,400 tons of citrus in domestic and foreign markets, a year-on-year increase of 1.7 percent, according to the Yichang Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Most current shipments consist of Lunwan and red-fleshed navel oranges.
Lunwan orange, a premium navel variety from Yichang, debuted in the Belarusian market in early April as the city expands its agricultural exports.
The first shipment of Lunwan oranges to Minsk sold out immediately, leading to urgent restocking requests. "Clients are urging us to restock, and we are now shipping around 200 tons per day," said Wang Enzhen, general manager of Yilinghong Ecological Agriculture Development Co., Ltd.
In the first quarter of 2026, Yichang sold 482,400 tons of citrus in domestic and foreign markets, a year-on-year increase of 1.7 percent, according to the Yichang Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Most current shipments consist of Lunwan and red-fleshed navel oranges.
Lunwan oranges after sorting.
Yilinghong has significantly reduced fruit decay during long-distance transport, thanks to an intelligent sorting line that evaluates fruit by size, sugar content, and internal moisture. Orders from Russia have more than doubled compared to last year, while daily online sales through livestreaming platforms targeting Chinese audiences now exceed 20,000 orders.
Lunwan oranges take 13 months to grow, blooming in spring and ripening the following spring. This unique cycle allows flowers and fruit to coexist on the same tree, enabling harvest from April to June, a period when most Northern Hemisphere citrus is out of season and Southern Hemisphere citrus has yet to arrive in bulk. This off-season timing gives Lunwan a distinct competitive edge in global markets.
"In Russian supermarkets, Lunwan oranges can sell for as much as 68 yuan (US$9.90) per kilogram," said Xie Heping, head of the National Comprehensive Experimental Station for Loose-Skin Citrus.
Logistics have also improved, as the Belt and Road cold-chain corridors have significantly shortened shipping times from Yichang to Moscow and Minsk.
Lunwan oranges are ready for delivery at a warehouse Yilinghong Ecological Agriculture Development Co., Ltd.Export growth is supported by strong supply-chain activity. A recent event for Lunwan oranges in Zigui County drew more than 250 experts, traders, and distributors. On-site contracts amounted to 15,000 tons of oranges, with a transaction value of about 140 million yuan.
Distributors lauded the unique flavor of Lunwan oranges, attributing it to the distinct geography and climate of the Three Gorges area, which they said cannot be replicated elsewhere.
Zhou Chongyu, Xu Hao also contributed to this story.
