Ho Chi Minh City: Seafood, vegetables... increase in market prices but need to closely follow price developments during Tet

The amount of seafood imported to Ho Chi Minh City has increased, with a wide variety of products, but Ho Chi Minh City leaders require the Department of Finance, Department of Industry and Trade... to closely coordinate and monitor, ensuring that there are no sudden price increases.

Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Dung (front row, wearing glasses) surveys the preparation of goods for Tet At Ty at Binh Dien wholesale market - Photo: Q. DINH

Late on January 23, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Dung led a working delegation to survey the preparation of goods for the 2025 Lunar New Year at Binh Dien wholesale market (District 8, Ho Chi Minh City).

Seafood output to the market increases, prices increase near Tet

Reporting to the working delegation, Mr. Phan Thanh Tan, Director of Binh Dien Market Management and Business Company, said that this year's Tet holiday has a rich variety of goods at reasonable prices.

The average output of goods to the market is 2,500 - 3,000 tons, in the two weeks before Tet, the output increases by 30-50%, especially in the days before Tet, the output of vegetables and fruits doubles, over 4,000-4,500 tons/night.

According to Mr. Tan, the market company regularly coordinates with the Department of Food Safety to ensure food safety and hygiene, handle related issues, and check the origin of goods imported into the market.

"The price increase trend is forecasted to focus on the time before Tet, mainly on items used a lot during Tet. For example, high-end seafood such as grouper, cobia, sturgeon, shrimp... are expected to increase in price by 10 - 20%, dried seafood is expected to increase in price by 20 - 50%.

From the night of December 27 onwards, prices of most goods began to gradually decrease and stabilize after Tet," Mr. Tan informed.

Demand for seafood increases during Tet, so traders have to work overtime continuously - Photo: Q. DINH

According to the representative of Binh Dien market, the market is facing difficulties because the land rental price of the market is higher than that of the two wholesale markets of Hoc Mon and Thu Duc.

At the same time, there are still some illegal trading points around the market, although supported by local authorities, they have not been completely resolved. Currently, the occupancy rate of the market's warehouses is about 70%.

"Without a fundamental solution, wholesale markets will no longer have the nature of having prices cheaper than traditional markets because all costs of traders must be included in the price of goods, and consumers will suffer," said a representative of Binh Dien market.

Need to closely follow market price developments during Tet

According to Mr. Nguyen Nguyen Phuong - Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City, spontaneous markets surrounding wholesale markets have been a problem for many years but have not been completely resolved. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen coordination between localities and relevant agencies to take strong action.

Many types of seafood are kept alive by traders to ensure quality when delivered to consumers during Tet - Photo: Q. DINH

According to Mr. Phuong, in addition to offline sales, Binh Dien market traders also sell online. However, online sales require investment in logistics, which also increases costs. Therefore, the market can organize joint logistics activities to help reduce costs for traders better. This activity is associated with the digital transformation process, which is a mandatory trend.

"The city has directed the pilot implementation of a pork trading floor after Tet, moving towards building a Ho Chi Minh City commodity exchange with the higher goal of forming the city's financial center.

Therefore, Binh Dien and Hoc Mon markets are the two main units contributing to the success of this pilot platform. Therefore, the two units need to research and coordinate with state management agencies to implement it," said Mr. Phuong.

According to the report of markets and supermarkets, the prices of many goods are still basically stable. However, near Tet, based on supply and demand, some popular goods may increase in price, but the increase is forecast to be moderate.

The amount of seafood products coming to Binh Dien market has increased, with a rich variety - Photo: QUANG DINH

Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, said that through a survey of the preparation of goods for Tet at wholesale markets in Hoc Mon, Thu Duc, supermarkets, etc., the supply of goods was quite abundant.

"Binh Dien market has forecasted prices, but we need to closely follow market developments. The Department of Finance, the Department of Industry and Trade... must closely coordinate to monitor to ensure that there are no sudden price increases," Mr. Dung requested.

Seafood prices have increased

According to records at retail markets and stores in Ho Chi Minh City, prices of many seafood products have increased by about 10-30% compared to normal.

Specifically, mackerel is at 70,000-100,000 VND/kg, tuna 80,000-130,000 VND/kg, white pomfret 160,000-240,000 VND/kg, snakehead fish and red tilapia 90,000-120,000 VND/kg, white-leg shrimp and giant freshwater prawn 170,000-300,000 VND/kg depending on the type.

Binh Dien Spring Flower Market for the Year of the Snake 2025 opened on the evening of January 23 with the theme "Brocaded Mountains and Rivers - Happy Spring". The event was organized by Saigon Trading Group - One Member Limited Liability Company (SATRA). There were 282 stalls of gardeners in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Thap and Ben Tre provinces participating.

All of these stalls are exempted from business rental fees by SATRA, with a total area of ​​about 12,000m² to support gardeners, worth nearly 4 billion VND. Binh Dien Spring Flower Market is held at Binh Dien wholesale market, District 8, Ho Chi Minh City.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tp-hcm-thuy-hai-san-rau-cu-ve-cho-tang-nhung-can-bam-sat-dien-bien-gia-dip-tet-20250124120053766.htm