Foreign grapes flood Vietnamese markets, as cheap as vegetables

Domestic output is insignificant, Vietnam spent nearly 3,900 billion VND to import grapes in 2023. At this time, foreign grapes are sold in abundance in Vietnamese markets, some of which are as cheap as vegetables.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhu (a fruit wholesaler in Cau Giay, Hanoi) said that Chinese grapes are in the harvest season, so this time she imports all kinds of grapes to sell, from milk grapes, red grapes to corn grapes. She sells seedless Ruby grapes and red grapes for only 50,000 VND/kg; corn milk grapes are as cheap as vegetables, only 130,000 VND/6-7kg box (about 20,000 VND/kg).

According to Ms. Thu Quynh - an employee who closes orders at a large fruit store chain in Hanoi - there are many types of milk grapes coming to Vietnamese markets, with prices ranging from 60,000-140,000 VND/kg. At the store chain she works at, prices vary depending on each shipment. (See details)

Super expensive early season wax market still 'sold out'

In recent years, according to VTC News, wax apples grown in large quantities in the countryside have suddenly reappeared on the Hanoi market and are sought after by many women despite their surprisingly high prices.

At the beginning of the season, the small, simple, aromatic wax apples suddenly become expensive. Some online traders said that because it is early in the season, wax apples are still rare and expensive, with a common price of around 200,000-250,000 VND/kg. When mid-season comes, the supply will be greater and the price may be cheaper, around 100,000-125,000 VND/kg.

Durian prices suddenly skyrocketed

Durian prices have recently skyrocketed. According to Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, on July 6, durian export purchasing warehouses announced that the purchase price of Monthong durian (also known as Dona) is 104,000-106,000 VND/kg (grade 1) and 84,000-86,000 VND/kg (grade 2) and Ri 6 durian is 62,000-64,000 VND/kg (grade 1) and 47,000-49,000 VND/kg (grade 2).

Compared to half a month ago, the price of Monthong durian increased by more than 20,000 VND/kg and Ri6 durian increased by 2,000-4,000 VND/kg.

Tiny lemon fever

Mau Son forest lemon is a rare and hard-to-find item, constantly out of stock because customers are looking to buy it.

Ms. Tin (Lang Son), a wild lemon trader, told VTC News that for more than 4 years now, Mau Son wild lemons have been ordered in large quantities every season, mostly for medicinal purposes. At the beginning of the season, the quantity of lemons was small and the price was high, but customers still kept looking for them.

Currently, the price of Mau Son wild lemons ranges from 55,000 to 60,000 VND/kg. This year, Mau Son wild lemons have a poor harvest. Therefore, the price of this type of lemon is expected to be higher than previous years.

Coffee and pepper prices increase dramatically, farmers earn billions

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In the first half of this year, coffee and pepper prices raced to record highs. Photo: Nguyen Hue

Over the past 6 months, the whole world has been surprised by the shocking increase in coffee and pepper prices. Notably, Vietnam is the world's leading producer, so farmers are happy because they earn a lot of money.

The latest report from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shows that in the first half of this year, our country exported about 902,000 tons of coffee, earning 3.22 billion USD. Compared to the same period last year, the volume of exported coffee decreased by 10.5% but the value increased sharply by 34.6%. The reason is that the average export price of coffee increased by 50.4% compared to the same period in 2023.

Similarly, as of mid-June 2024, our country exported nearly 129,000 tons of pepper of all kinds, with a turnover of 565.3 million USD. Compared to the same period last year, the amount of pepper exported decreased by 10% but the value increased sharply by 27% thanks to the sharp increase in pepper prices and anchoring at a high level. (See details)

Sky-high ticket prices, domestic air passengers down nearly 20%

In the first 6 months of this year, while the number of international passengers by plane reached more than 21 million, an increase of more than 44%, domestic passengers only reached 17 million, a decrease of more than 19% compared to the same period last year. The reason stems from expensive airfares.

Regarding domestic flights, according to Mr. Dinh Viet Thang, Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, due to a shortage of aircraft, domestic airlines have had to adjust and reduce supply.

This is also the reason why airfares have skyrocketed. Although airlines have made efforts to charter aircraft, adjust flight schedules, and increase capacity - especially late and early morning flights - on busy routes during the peak summer season, the domestic market has still decreased sharply compared to the same period in 2023 and 2019. (See details)

Airlines increase flights, peak summer airfares drop sharply

Passengers have many opportunities to choose to buy airline tickets when airlines and flight routes reduce prices, rent more planes, and increase flights to serve the peak summer tourist season.

A survey by VTC News on the morning of June 30 showed that ticket prices from July to the end of November 2024 on most routes have decreased sharply compared to the same period in 2023, during the peak period of Lunar New Year and the recent April 30-May 1 holidays.
A survey of round-trip ticket prices for a flight during the peak tourist season in 2024, Hanoi - Nha Trang, shows that the price ranges from 3.7 to 4.2 million VND/ticket (including taxes and fees) depending on the airline and flight time.

Commercial shrimp prices in Ba Ria - Vung Tau have dropped sharply.

Shrimp farmers in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province told Tin Tuc newspaper that in the first half of this year, the price of commercial shrimp has been continuously falling. Shrimp farming had previously encountered extremely hot weather, and it was the rainy season, so shrimp were susceptible to disease and slow growth, raising costs increased even more, while selling prices were low, causing many farmers to suffer losses. Some households had to "hang up their ponds" and stop farming.

Commercial shrimp in Ba Ria - Vung Tau is currently priced at 120,000 VND/kg, down 50,000-60,000 VND/kg compared to the beginning of the year.

Motorcycles are constantly discounted.

Motorcycle prices are falling sharply. According to Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, due to a significant decrease in consumption demand, motorcycle dealers in Ho Chi Minh City continue to reduce selling prices from the beginning of July 2024, with a reduction of VND500,000 to VND2 million per unit.

Previously, in June, many motorbike shops simultaneously reduced prices from several hundred thousand dong to nearly 5 million dong per motorbike, depending on the model.