The Ministry of Industry and Trade closely coordinates with localities to ensure the supply of goods.

After storm No. 3 made landfall in several provinces in the North, complicated floods and rains directly affected the lives of people in this area.

WinMart supermarket system opens from 8am to 10pm daily to serve shoppers (photo taken at 10am on September 7). Photo: Tran Viet/VNA

Regarding market regulation and ensuring the supply of goods to serve the people, VNA reporter interviewed Mr. Bui Nguyen Anh Tuan - Deputy Director of the Domestic Market Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) about the Ministry of Industry and Trade's plan to supply essential goods during this flood season.

Can you share about the supply situation in localities affected by storm No. 3 and its circulation?

Faced with the complicated situation of floods and rains in many northern localities, following the direction of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Departments of Industry and Trade of the localities have urgently grasped the situation of implementing the tasks of supplying goods before the time of storm No. 3 making landfall in the North and have prepared the supply of essential goods to ensure serving the people. Therefore, people have proactively purchased and stockpiled goods before the storm made landfall.

On September 7, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued urgent dispatch No. 6813/BCT-TTTN to the Departments of Industry and Trade in 35 provinces/cities to prepare and coordinate essential goods for timely supply, ensuring the quantity of goods, food and foodstuffs ready to be mobilized to the market to serve the people. On September 9, the Ministry of Industry and Trade sent urgent dispatch No. 6883/BCT-TTTN to the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities on ensuring the supply of essential goods to stabilize the market after the storm and urgent dispatch No. 6915/BCT-TTTN dated September 10, 2024 to enterprises producing and distributing essential goods on ensuring the supply of goods for areas affected by floods.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade regularly and continuously directs and guides the Department of Industry and Trade, distribution enterprises, large-scale goods suppliers, key traders and petroleum businesses to update the developments of the commodity market in provinces and cities affected by floods and some other provinces and cities that are cut off and isolated due to storms and storm circulation to focus on supporting the supply of essential goods to localities.

As of 11:00 a.m. on September 11, in Hanoi, the retail system and markets, and the supply of essential goods are still basically guaranteed to serve the people. Some points of sale in the area are located in flooded areas, leading to slower transportation of goods than usual because the means of transport are transferred to provinces heavily affected by the storm. The prices of vegetables, tubers, and fruits have increased due to rain and flooding, causing vegetables to spoil and making harvesting and transportation difficult. However, these items have been proactively transferred from sources in the southern provinces to ensure the essential needs of the people.

The supply situation of goods at supermarkets and markets; in which, there are some areas of Quang Ninh province, although the facilities were damaged by the storm, the units still maintain operations. Currently, there are 130/133 markets, 11 general supermarkets and 342 convenience stores in the area, most of which maintain the sale of essential goods including vegetables, fruits, meat and eggs. Quang Ninh province still meets the demand for essential goods for the people, the prices of basic goods are stable, except for some items such as green vegetables and meat, which have increased slightly by 10 - 15% compared to the time before the storm.

In Hai Phong city, there was heavy rain, many streets were flooded, however, commercial activities in the city continued as usual. In the markets, food, vegetables and fruits were in abundant supply, shopping demand did not fluctuate much (increased by 5-10% compared to normal days).

At supermarkets, the supply of goods increased by 80 - 100% (mainly for essential goods). Due to the fear of buying floods and landslides in the northern provinces, from the afternoon of September 10, customers shopping at supermarkets increased dramatically (increased by 150 - 170% compared to normal days), people lined up to buy necessities such as meat, fish, vegetables, ready-to-eat foods, bread, dry food, milk, water, prices of goods at supermarkets remained stable compared to normal days, there was no increase in prices of goods, the amount of goods sold increased sharply by 50 - 80% compared to normal days.

At Trai Gang market (Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi), the amount of goods is still abundant, meeting the needs of people. Photo: Hoang Hieu/VNA

Meanwhile, Bac Giang province is still experiencing rain and water levels are receding. In some flooded areas, the government and philanthropists are still providing daily food supplies. Commercial activities in the area are still operating normally, with sufficient supply to meet demand.

In Thai Nguyen, the Cau River is receding, however, some areas in Thai Nguyen city are still flooded, affecting travel; some areas in Phu Binh district, Soi Coc residential area, Pho Yen city are still flooded. For flooded areas, the province is still implementing food supply work. Apart from flooded areas, the circulation and supply of goods are still taking place fully.

The Red River water level is still high in Yen Bai city and districts. Goods still meet demand, prices of mainly green vegetables have increased by 15-20%. However, due to deep flooding in Yen Bai city, transporting goods to districts is difficult.

In Ha Giang, due to the impact of the storm, some districts still experienced moderate and heavy rains leading to quite serious landslides, so Xi Man district was temporarily unable to trade goods. Local authorities promptly deployed solutions to circulate goods to serve people's needs. Commercial activities in other districts were basically normal, the supply of goods and prices of essential goods were basically stable.

According to the summary report on the supply of goods from the Department of Industry and Trade of provinces/cities: For areas that have not been flooded or isolated: The supply of goods is still guaranteed, the price of goods at modern distribution systems is kept stable; at traditional markets, the price of some vegetables, tubers, pork, and noodles has increased, but the supply is regularly replenished, so there is no phenomenon of shortage of goods or sudden price increases.

In addition, in flooded and isolated areas, the Department of Industry and Trade and businesses are coordinating with local authorities to provide essential goods such as noodles, dry food, bread, banh chung, and bottled water to people.

Faced with the complicated situation of floods and rains, many people tend to hoard goods. What do you recommend on this issue?

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has regularly and continuously contacted and directed the Department of Industry and Trade, distribution enterprises, and large-scale goods suppliers to update the developments of the goods market in provinces and cities affected by floods, especially Thai Nguyen, Lao Cai, Yen Bai and some other provinces and cities that were cut off and isolated due to storms and storm circulation to focus on supporting the supply of essential goods to localities.

Therefore, the Ministry of Industry and Trade recommends that people stay calm, coordinate with state management agencies and functional forces to overcome damage and reserve resources such as essential goods, do not hoard more than necessary to prioritize areas heavily affected by the storm.

Quynh Mai market (Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi) has abundant goods. Photo: Thanh Tung/VNA

Could you tell us how the Ministry of Industry and Trade plans to supply goods to meet people's needs?

On September 11, 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued urgent dispatch No. 6969/CD-BCT on focusing on overcoming the consequences of storm No. 3 and floods, landslides, flash floods, and landslides after the storm; in which, focusing on implementing a number of tasks including organizing and deploying a Frontline Working Group on the supply and regulation of essential goods in localities affected by storm No. 3 to directly grasp the market situation and demand for essential goods.

In addition, coordination between provinces and cities affected by rain and floods with other provinces and cities upon request from localities is carried out to ensure the maintenance of essential goods supply to localities affected by rain and floods.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue to closely follow the direction of the Prime Minister in Official Dispatch No. 92/CD-TTg dated September 10, 2024 on focusing on overcoming the consequences of storm No. 3 and post-storm floods and regularly and continuously monitor the situation reports of localities to have specific and timely instructions for each locality in coordinating with functional units to regulate and transport goods to serve people affected by storm No. 3 in 2024.

Thank you very much!

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