This paper describes the production of xylitol from d-xylose and horticultural waste hemicellulosic hydrolysate by a new strain of Candida athensensis SB18. Strain SB18 completely consumed 250 and 300gL −1 d-xylose and successful converted it to xylitol in the respective yield of 0.83 and 0.87gg −1 , resulting in 207.8 and 256.5gL −1 of xylitol, respectively. The respective volumetric productivity were 1.15 and 0.97gL −1 h −1 . Approximately 100.1gL −1 of xylitol was obtained from the bioconversion of detoxified horticultural waste hemicellulosic hydrolysate using strain SB18. The yield and productivity were 0.81gg −1 xylose and 0.98gL −1 h −1 , respectively. Strain C. athensensis SB18 was able to completely utilize glucose, mannose, xylose and partially arabinose. This work demonstrates that stain C. athensensis SB18 is a promising strain for high-titer and high-yield xylitol production and it has great potential in bioconversion of hemicellulosic hydrolysate.