Fresh food prices increase again… as scheduled

More than 3 weeks to the Lunar New Year, this is the time when people's demand for food increases. However, in recent days, fresh food from vegetables, fruits to meats have all been "stirring" to increase in price, making consumers hesitate.

Vegetables and tubers prices increase sharply

From the end of December 2024 to the first week of 2025, food prices in traditional markets have changed in an upward direction. Explaining the reason, some traders said that the unseasonal rains that lasted in mid-December affected the supply, especially vegetables, tubers, and fruits. The vegetable growing area concentrated in Phu Long town was also affected, many areas were flooded, and the reduced output pushed the price of this item up sharply. Accordingly, compared to the beginning of December, the price of green onions sold in the garden increased from 17,000 VND to 22,000 VND/kg, lettuce (water fern) from 8,000 VND to 30,000 VND/kg. The strongest increase was in leafy vegetables and spices; in which water spinach doubled to 20,000 VND/bunch, Malabar spinach, amaranth, green mustard, Malabar spinach from 15,000 - 20,000 VND/bunch (equivalent to 35,000 - 40,000 VND/kg). In particular, white basil increased nearly 3 times, currently priced at 100,000 VND/kg, cinnamon basil 70,000 VND/kg; the remaining vegetables from 35,000 - 45,000 VND/kg.

Vegetables and fruits have increased in price in recent days.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang - a trader at Phu Thuy market said, "Over the past 2 weeks, the price of Da Lat vegetables and fruits has also increased due to the scarce supply and prolonged rain affecting farmers' crops. In addition, the high demand for year-end shopping has limited the supply, pushing up vegetable prices in the retail market. Currently, prices are stabilizing again, although they have increased slightly compared to early December, but it is forecasted that from now until Tet, vegetable prices will increase, as gardeners have not yet been able to supply the market, while consumer demand has increased."

It is forecasted that from now until Lunar New Year, vegetable prices will continue to increase, as gardeners have not yet been able to supply the market with the newly planted crops.

In addition, the prices of pork, beef, chicken and seafood have also increased significantly. Unfavorable weather, continuous rain and tropical depression have caused many boats to stay ashore, not going offshore to fish, only small boats and boats go close to shore with little seafood to sell during the day. Accordingly, the prices of seafood in traditional markets in the province are at high levels such as: cobia is currently priced at 185,000 VND/kg whole, 280,000 VND/kg sliced; mackerel is 220,000 VND/kg sliced, 180,000 VND/kg whole; shrimp from 300,000 to 400,000 VND/kg; fresh squid from 250,000 to 400,000 VND/kg; squid from 220,000 VND to 600,000 VND/kg depending on size...

Many foods also increased in price.

Mr. Nguyen Ty, a fisherman near the shore of Duc Thang ward, said: “For more than a month now, it has been raining and windy, the sea is rough, so I have not been able to go to sea as much as before, and there are very few fish and squid. At this time, if the boats catch a good catch, the Tet holiday will be big because the price of seafood has increased. From now until Tet, the demand for seafood storage by restaurants and eateries for Tet is very high, so the price of fish, shrimp, squid, crab, snails, etc. will continue to increase.”

In addition, according to a survey at the markets, the prices of pork, beef, and chicken also increased due to the increased demand for pork at the end of the year to process products for the Lunar New Year and partly due to the recent African swine fever epidemic that prevented people from restocking their herds. Specifically, pork belly is currently priced at 130,000 - 170,000 VND/kg; ribs from 160,000 - 180,000 VND/kg, lean shoulder more than 210,000 VND/kg... Therefore, processed meat products have also increased, such as Chinese sausage, pork floss, pork roll, pickled pig ears... Not only fresh food, many other items such as rice, sugar, cooking oil, milk... have also increased in price since the end of December 2024. Some rice dealers said that rice prices have increased slightly by about 1,000 - 2,000 VND/kg depending on the type, due to high customer demand near the end of the year, while transportation, labor, and gasoline costs have increased... Specifically, fragrant rice fluctuates at 20,000 - 23,000 VND/kg; spongy rice is 18,000 - 20,000 VND/kg; Taiwanese fragrant rice is 20,000 - 22,000 VND/kg, ST 24, 25 rice is priced at 28,000 - 32,000 VND/kg... Cooking oil has also increased sharply from 35,000 VND/liter to 42,000 VND/liter.

Major supermarkets are applying price stabilization programs.

In the context of many items about to increase in price at the end of the year, representatives of supermarkets such as Co.op Mart Phan Thiet, La Gi, Phan Ri Cua, Lotte Mart... said that they will apply a price stabilization program, not increase prices during Tet. At these supermarkets, the Tet shopping atmosphere has been filled when Tet foods are abundant on the shelves with many attractive promotions. It is known that according to the plan to reserve essential goods to stabilize the market before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2025 in the province, the reserve of essential goods to stabilize prices is more than 420 billion VND with many stabilized items at participating units.

The stabilization plan is implemented to contribute to balancing the supply and demand of goods, stabilizing market prices, especially essential goods to meet the production and consumption needs of the people in the months before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2025. Thereby, it also aims to limit the rate of price increase, control inflation, promote production and business development as well as ensure social security in Binh Thuan .

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/thuc-pham-tuoi-song-den-hen-lai-tang-gia-127060.html