Lotus mirror price increases, Ido longan sells well, raw pangasius price decreases

(CT) - After a period of low prices, lotus shoot prices in many localities in the Mekong Delta have increased by about 5,000-7,000 VND/kg compared to more than a week ago. Old lotus shoots are sold by farmers to traders and purchasing warehouses at prices ranging from 15,000-17,000 VND/kg, while previously they were only around 10,000 VND/kg. Lotus shoot prices have increased due to retailers and businesses stepping up purchasing and processing products for domestic consumption and export, especially making dried lotus shoots. In addition, the supply of lotus shoots in many localities has somewhat decreased compared to before because many lotus fields have finished harvesting lotus shoots or have just been planted and do not have old lotus shoots to harvest.

Traders buy lotus mirrors from people in Dong Hiep commune, Co Do district, Can Tho city.

►Although it is the peak harvest season of many fruits in the Mekong Delta, Ido longan farmers are still selling Ido longan at quite high prices. Currently, Ido longan is being sold by farmers in many places to traders at 23,000-25,000 VND/kg. Selected grade 1 Ido longan (longan that meets export standards) is being sold by farmers in many localities to traders and fruit purchasing warehouses at prices from 26,000-27,000 VND/kg or more, this price is about 10,000 VND/kg higher than the same period last year. According to traders and fruit businesses, longan is selling at high prices thanks to increased exports, especially to the Chinese market.

Harvesting Ido longan in Thoi Lai district, Can Tho city.

► Currently, the price of raw pangasius for export in many localities in the Mekong Delta has decreased by at least 2,000-4,000 VND/kg compared to the first months of 2023 and compared to the same period last year. Recently, the price of raw pangasius for export (white meat pangasius) sold by farmers to export enterprises is only at 27,000-28,000 VND/kg, while in the same period in 2022, the price was up to 31,000-32,000 VND/kg. With the current selling price, many pangasius farming households are losing 1,000-2,000 VND/kg of commercial fish or just breaking even. Therefore, pangasius farmers are applying solutions to limit losses (such as stocking fish at low density, reducing feed...) and hope that pangasius prices will soon improve again.