20,000 VND per kg of Chinese green kiwi

Chinese green kiwis have a wholesale price of about 20,000-30,000 VND per kilogram, half that of goods from Australia and New Zealand.

A survey of online markets and wholesale markets in Vietnam shows that the price of Chinese green kiwi has dropped to a record low. On the online market, a 10kg box of green kiwi is being sold for 200,000 VND, equivalent to 20,000 VND per kg. This is an unbelievable price for a fruit that was once considered a luxury item.

Chinese kiwis labeled "New Zealand" are sold on Le Duc Tho Street (Go Vap). Photo: Thi Ha

Ms. Thanh Hoa, a kiwi wholesaler next to Thu Duc Agricultural Market (HCMC), said that this year, this variety has the cheapest price in many years. "Each time, I import thousands of boxes so the price is very low. Thanks to that, the wholesale price for stores is only 20,000-30,000 VND per kilogram," Ms. Thanh Hoa said.

At small retail stores and carts, green Chinese kiwis are sold for 50,000-80,000 VND per kilogram. Some places even hang signs saying "35,000 VND for half a kilo" to attract customers, like Mr. Hoang - the owner of a cart on Le Duc Tho Street, Go Vap District.

Meanwhile, kiwis from Australia and New Zealand, although cooling down, are still at 120,000-200,000 VND per kg at retail (wholesale price is about 60,000-120,000 VND), which is twice as expensive as Chinese goods.

Chinese green kiwis are grown mainly in temperate provinces such as Sichuan, Shaanxi and Henan , where conditions are ideal for this fruit. With modern and large-scale breeding technology, China has optimized costs, creating a huge supply at competitive prices.

This fruit is usually round, uniform, about 6 fruits per kg, with hairy skin, not shiny and less elongated than those from Australia or New Zealand. In particular, they have good firmness, can be preserved for a longer time if kept properly.

Experts advise that when buying Chinese kiwis, you should choose firm ones, avoid soft ones because they may have been left for a long time or stored improperly.

Chinese green kiwis are packed in baskets or boxes of 9-10 kg. Photo: Linh Dan

A representative of a fruit importer said that Chinese kiwis are cheap thanks to high output, low labor costs and advanced technology. Optimum transportation means also reduce prices when they arrive in Vietnam.

Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen - General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association - assessed that China's modern breeding technology helps this country take the lead in supplying cheap agricultural products. "They take seeds from other countries, multiply them quickly with low labor costs, so the products have competitive prices," Mr. Nguyen commented.

He also warned consumers to be careful when buying cheap fruit, avoiding products of unknown origin or poor quality.

According to the General Department of Customs, in the first 10 months of the year, Vietnam spent nearly 800 million USD importing agricultural products from China, up 24% over the same period last year. Main items include apples, grapes, persimmons, kiwis and garlic.

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