At the end of May, markets and streets in Ho Chi Minh City will sell many summer fruits such as seaweed, orange, and watermelon at cheap prices.
oranges from the Western provinces such as Vinh Long and Ben Tre are in the harvest season, and the selling price in Ho Chi Minh City has decreased sharply like never before. On roads such as Pham Hung (Binh Chanh), Pho Quang (Tan Binh), oranges are sold for only 5,500-6,000 VND/kg, and some places even sell 10kg bags for only 50,000-55,000 VND. Many points of sale use "orange rescue" signs to attract buyers.
Ms. Nguyen Loan - the owner of a fruit farm in Tan Binh District, shared: "Currently, there are many oranges being harvested. In previous years, the price was often high, and the orange was sold out in the hot weather. But in recent years, demand has been weak, people have not been able to sell at a good price, at times I have sold at the warehouse for only 2,500 VND/kg". According to Ms. Loan, orange prices have fallen sharply due to the rapid increase in growing area in the West but unstable output, mainly domestic consumption.
Not only oranges, seaweed also enters the harvest season with surprisingly low prices. At markets and fruit stalls in Ho Chi Minh City, seaweed is sold for only 30,000-40,000 VND/kg, about 30% lower than the same period last year.
Mr. Minh - a trader at Ba Chieu market, said: "This year's food is sweet and beautiful, but due to early harvest, combined with hot weather, purchasing power has not increased as expected. The clothes I sell are imported from Dak Lak and the transportation cost is also cheap, so the selling price is not high".
Watermelon from the Central provinces such as Quang Nam, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen... is sold in Ho Chi Minh City at a price ranging from 5,000-7,000 VND/kg, depending on the type and origin. Although the price is cheap, purchasing power is still not high.
According to Mr. Nguyen Binh Phuong - Deputy Director of Thu Duc Agricultural Products Market Management and Trading Joint Stock Company, it is currently the peak of the fruit season with many goods. For the Central Highlands seaweed imported to the market every day, it is about 70 tons. In the coming days, the Northern fabric will also pour in, continuing to put pressure on the general price level of fruits.
