Prices increase every day
Ms. Chi - a pork trader at Ward 2 market (Soc Trang city, Soc Trang province) - lamented: " Meat prices have increased compared to before Tet by 20,000 - 30,000 VND/kg each. Currently, pork belly has reached 160,000 VND/kg, thigh meat 130,000 VND/kg, and young ribs are "asting" at 180,000 VND/kg".
Ms. Chi added that the continuous increase in meat prices forced her to adjust the selling price, even though she knew it would affect consumer purchasing power.
"Every day the price is different, continuously increasing. I took meat from the stove to increase the price, forcing myself to also increase it. However, if it increases by only a few thousand dong/kg, if it increases too much, consumers are afraid to buy, if they do not increase, they will not be profitable," Ms. Chi shared.
Another trader at Phuong 2 market said that the amount of meat sold has decreased significantly due to high prices. "Normally, I sell 200 - 300 kg of meat of all kinds every day. Now only about 100 kg/day, but purchasing power is very slow. Many people are Fed up with high prices, sometimes they come to ask for prices and then do not buy or buy very little," said this trader.
Another trader at Soc Trang market (Soc Trang city) said that purchasing power at meat stalls has decreased by about 40%, the reason being that meat prices are too high. Many traders are afraid of losing money so they do not dare to trade as much as before.
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Ly - a meat trader in Soc Trang City, during Tet, pork prices reached a peak when they reached nearly 200,000 VND/kg. This is understandable due to increased consumer demand during Tet. After Tet, the price has cooled down but then started to increase every day as it is now.
Meanwhile, pork prices at clean food stores and supermarkets range from 150,000 - 200,000 VND/kg, making consumers even more determined to spend.
The increase in pork prices is said to be due to a shortage of supply, and the slowdown of pig herding activities in many localities.This pushed the price of live pigs up, reaching 80,000 VND/kg in some places, leading to increased fluctuations in pork prices at markets.
Consumers looking for alternatives Given the continuous increase in pork prices, many consumers have had to change their eating habits and look for alternative foods.
Ms. Hong - a meat buyer at Ward 2 market - shared: "Because the house has elderly people and young children, meat is often used in meals. The price of meat was so high that I had to buy less than before, mainly for my parents and children to eat. As for the couple, they used fish and chicken instead".
Similarly, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thao in Ward 3 (Soc Trang City) said that she has limited her pork purchases for more than a week instead of buying fish. "Previously, I ate meat about 5 days a week, but now I eat it very little, sometimes I don't eat it for a week," said Ms. Thao.
Ms. Nguyen Thuy Ngan - owner of a restaurant in Ward 10 (Soc Trang City) - said that meat prices have increased while the price of a portion of breakfast she sells is still 25,000 VND. "Because the users are low-income workers, if they sell high, no one will eat, so I still keep the price and no profit," said Ms. Ngan.
