Source: Vnexpress.net
Mangosteen, mini durian, rattan, and rambutan are imported by traders from Thailand, with prices 30-40% lower than last year and competitive with Vietnamese goods.
From May, many Thai tropical fruits come into harvest. Surveys in Ho Chi Minh City show that Thai fruit is “flooded” in the market, imported by traders and sold at attractive prices, about 30% lower than last year.
Ms. Loan – owner of an imported fruit store in Ho Chi Minh City said that Thai fruit has never been as cheap as this year. Currently, each kilogram of Thai mangosteen and bonbon retails for 55,000-60,000 VND per kg, and for Thai rambutan 45,000-60,000 VND per kg. This price is 30-40% lower than the same period last year.
Similarly, Ms. Lan – a fruit seller at Ba Chieu market also said that in addition to popular fruits, high-end goods such as Thai rattan and mini durian are also cheaper than last year. For example, Thai rattan retails for 60,000-70,000 VND per kg, down 40% compared to last year. Mini durian costs 60,000-130,000 VND per kg.
“This year, many Thai fruits overwhelm Vietnamese products, competing in quality and price,” Ms. Lan said.
Thai mangosteen is sold in all markets in Ho Chi Minh City. Image: Hong Chau
At Thu Duc and Hoc Mon agricultural wholesale markets, many types of Thai fruits are imported by small traders in large quantities. Besides goods arriving at the market, this year many dealers also import and distribute directly at traditional and online markets.
Mr. Thanh – the distributor of Thai fruits in An Giang said that Thai goods arrived in quantity twice as large as last year, so the wholesale price of mangosteen, rambutan, and rambutan ranges from 25,000 to 45,000 VND per kg (depending on the type).
As for Thai rattan and durian, the wholesale price is about 40,000-42,000 VND per kg. For grade 1 selected goods, the price is slightly higher, about 50,000-60,000 VND.
Explaining the reason why Thai products are cheap, according to Mr. Thanh, since the beginning of May, many fruits in this country are in full bloom. According to this trader, Thai fruits are usually harvested 1-2 months before Vietnamese products, so at this time many establishments import and sell them to diversify their products. Among them, high quality mangosteen, bamboo shoots, and Thai rambutan are popular with many customers, while Vietnamese products have failed this year.
In addition, shipping costs from Thailand to Vietnam also decreased by 20-30% compared to last year. Some traders transport goods by road, through Cambodia, at lower costs.
Thai rattan sold at traditional markets, half the price of last year. Image: Hong Chau
According to traders, Vietnam increased imports of Thai fruits because many domestic agricultural products reduced output because of adverse weather. This year, mangosteen production in Lai Thieu capital (Binh Duong) is estimated to decrease by half, according to growing households.
Similarly, durian in the Western region in gardens decreased by 20-40% due to drought and prolonged heat. In addition, in recent years, rambutan planting area has been reduced, because farmers continuously lose money and the price is cheap.
Data from the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association shows that in the first 5 months of the year, fruit and vegetable import turnover reached 816 million USD, an increase of over 14% over the same period in 2023. In particular, fruits and vegetables from international markets enter Vietnam. South increased sharply.
Particularly in Thailand, in 4 months, this country’s fruit and vegetable exports to Vietnam reached 13.3 million USD, up 5% over the same period last year, of which many types of fruit increased by double digits.
