VietNamNet Bridge – Prices have risen at traditional markets in HCM City on essential goods as the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday approaches.

At Tan Dinh, Ben Thanh, Thu Duc and Ba Chieu markets, the prices of fish, pork and poultry meat have all increased substantially.

Tran Thi Kiem Hoa of Tan Dinh Market’s Management Board said the price of pork rose by VND10,000 -VND30,000 a kilo to VND90,000-VND130,000.

Chicken, duck, fish and shrimp also increased by VND10,000-VND20,000 a kilo from a week ago. In Ha Noi, the price of pork and beef rose by 10-30 per cent to about VND140,000 a kilo for pork fillet and VND290,000 a kilo for beef fillet.

At many markets, processed and dried foods like gio cha (pork paste), gio thu (pig’s head paste), dried shrimp and cuttlefish, lotus seed, cashew nut and chestnut have all increased compared to a month ago.

The prices of pomelo, banana, mango and watermelon have also shot up strongly. Pomelos have increased from 60-100 per cent, traders at Ba Chieu Market said, warning of further increases in the run-up to the Lunar New Year.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Truc, a shopper at Ba Chieu Market, said that last Sunday she bought pomelo at VND35,000 a kilo, but paid double the price yesterday.

In HCM City, the prices of alcoholic beverages have also risen. Retailers reported that beer prices were up by at least 5-11 per cent.

Shopkeepers in traditional markets and retailers blamed the price hikes on a sudden surge in demand.

While the prices of fruit and other foods increased, those of many kinds of vegetables had fallen by 20-30 per cent from a week ago in Ha Noi due to an abundant supply.

Prices for cabbage, for instance, fell from VND15,000 a week ago to the current VND10,000.

Some shop owners said unfavourable weather last month caused a shortage of vegetables, which led to price increases.

Weather has been rather good recently, and vegetable supply has increased.

Similarly, the price of several kinds of vegetables, including broccoli, cucumber and carrots in HCM City fell significantly.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha, deputy director of Thu Duc Wholesale Market’s Management Company, said the volume of farm produce shipped to the market was high about 300,000-500,000 tonnes a night.

The prices at supermarkets in HCM City remained stable, thanks to the City’s price stabilisation programme and preparation for the Tet market. Several markets have launched promotions to stimulate demand.

Source: VNS