China cold storage solution provider
Lychee is one of the most perishable fruits on Earth. At room temperature, it turns brown, ferments, and rots in just 2–3 days. Even in standard cold rooms, skin browning ruins marketability within a week.
But with a properly designed lychee cold room, you can:
✔️ Extend shelf life to 20–30 days (or 45+ days with anti-browning treatment)
✔️ Maintain bright red skin and sweet flavor
✔️ Ship by sea—not air—to Europe or the Gulf
✔️ Reduce post-harvest loss from 50% → under 12%
So how much does it cost—and how much can you actually store?
📦 Lychee Storage Capacity vs. Investment
| Facility Size | Floor Area | Usable Volume* | Total Cost (USD) | Lychee Stored |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Exporter / Packing House | 150 m² | 600 m³ | $30,000 – $35,000 | 90 – 110 metric tons |
| Regional Hub | 500 m² | 2,000 m³ | $80,000 – $100,000 | 300 – 360 metric tons |
| Large Export Facility | 1,000 m² | 4,000 m³ | $150,000 – $180,000 | 600 – 720 metric tons |
*Assumes 4m clear height and standard export cartons (8–10 kg/box).
Lychee density: ~150–180 kg/m³ (due to delicate handling and airflow needs).
❄️ Critical Storage Conditions to Prevent Browning
Lychee browning is caused by polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme activity—triggered by oxygen and warm temps. To stop it:
- Temperature: 1–3°C (never above 5°C!)
- Relative Humidity: 90–95% RH (prevents pericarp dehydration—the #1 cause of browning)
- Airflow: Gentle, uniform circulation—no direct cold air on boxes
- Pre-cooling: Must reach 3°C within 2–4 hours of harvest
💡 Pro Tip: Combine cold storage with sulfur dioxide (SO₂) fumigation or citric acid + ascorbic acid dip before cooling. This can extend marketable life to 45–60 days while keeping skin red.
💰 What’s Included in the Price?
A turnkey lychee cold room includes:
✅ 120mm PU insulated panels (food-grade, seamless joints)
✅ Precision refrigeration system (±0.5°C stability)
✅ High-humidity control + misting system
✅ Digital monitoring with cloud alerts
✅ Insulated high-speed doors
✅ Full installation, commissioning & operator training
⚠️ Avoid low-cost “vegetable chillers”—they lack humidity control and cause rapid browning.
🌍 Real-World Insight
A lychee exporter in Bac Giang, Vietnam built a 500m² cold room to serve Russian supermarkets:
- Total Investment: $92,000 USD
- Capacity: Stores 340 tons of fresh lychee
- Protocol: SO₂ treatment + 2°C / 93% RH storage
- Result:
- Shelf life extended to 42 days
- Rejection rate dropped from 45% → 6%
- Achieved ROI in 9 months