Both traders and consumers are 'shocked' by vegetable prices

(DN) - In recent weeks, the price of green vegetables at many traditional and temporary markets in Dong Nai province has increased rapidly, some types have increased by at least 10,000 VND/kg, some types have increased 3-5 times compared to the previous period. According to many traders, this situation is due to the impact of storms and floods in the "capitals" of vegetable growing, causing a shortage of supply.

Shocked by "skyrocketing" vegetable prices

According to many traders in traditional markets in the province, vegetable prices began to increase when the North and Central regions were affected by storms. And this situation became more and more tense when the Da Lat area ( Lam Dong province) suffered landslides, making it difficult to transport vegetables to neighboring provinces and cities, causing many items to be out of supply.

Vegetable prices increase every day at traditional markets and temporary retail markets. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

Records at some traditional retail markets and people's markets in the central area of ​​Dong Nai show that vegetable prices have continuously increased sharply, changing daily, with some types doubling or tripling compared to last month.

Ms. Phan Thi Lan, a trader at Hoa An market (Bien Hoa ward, Dong Nai province) said: All green vegetables and spices have increased in price. Green onions have increased the most so selling them is not profitable, even losing money if they are damaged. I buy them for 85,000 VND/kg, and still have to keep 85,000 VND/kg when selling them. Other popular green vegetables such as mustard greens, Malabar spinach, water spinach, and lettuce have also increased 2-3 times compared to the beginning of November.

Specifically, water spinach increased from 10,000 VND to 30,000 VND/kg, mustard greens from 20,000 VND to 45,000 VND/kg, Malabar spinach from 45-50,000 VND/kg, lettuce from 30,000 VND to 60-70,000 VND/kg, bitter melon also remained at 40-50,000 VND/kg... depending on the day and the vegetable stall.

Both the input and output of vegetables are affected by prices. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

The high price of vegetables has caused traders to face a shortage of input and a sharp decrease in output. Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet, owner of a vegetable stall at Bien Hoa market (Tran Bien ward, Dong Nai province) shared: “The supply of goods at wholesale markets is not enough to meet the demand of traders. There are days when I import goods but not enough to meet the demand, many green vegetables are not available to buy and sell. Vegetables are scarce in the supply from the gardeners, so the retail price is also pushed up”.

Mr. Truong The Hung, Head of Bien Hoa Market Management Board, Dong Nai Province, said: Purchasing power at the market has decreased sharply since the Covid-19 pandemic. However, in recent days, unfavorable weather has caused a decrease in vegetable supply, pushing vegetable prices at retail markets up day by day, causing the amount of buying and selling to decrease further. Since then, consumers have also considered when buying even though vegetables are essential items in life.

The source of vegetables at many traditional markets is often taken from wholesale markets such as Tan Bien, Dau Giay, Thu Duc ( Ho Chi Minh City) ... In the current situation of scarce goods, small traders must have long-term relationships to import goods to sell. Right from the beginning, the price of goods has increased, some increased by at least 10 thousand VND/kg, some doubled, tripled.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Net, a small trader at Hoa An market (Bien Hoa ward, Dong Nai province) said: This price level makes small traders surprised and it is difficult to make much profit because the amount of damaged and crushed goods that have to be thrown away is greater. Therefore, the profit is also lower than when selling vegetables at cheap prices.

Housewives also have to "weigh their brains" when going to the market.

The unusual price increase has caused many households to have difficulty in daily expenses, and small traders are "restless" because their purchasing power has clearly decreased. According to Ms. Net, when vegetable prices were cheap, the amount of money spent on importing goods was only 5-7 million VND/day, but now, this number has doubled or more. Along with the skyrocketing vegetable prices, purchasing power has decreased a lot because buyers "hesitate" when hearing the vegetable prices.

For example, cabbage used to cost only 15-20 thousand VND/kg, when buying a few more ounces the amount was insignificant, now the same quantity but the difference is much larger. Since then, customers are also afraid, not daring to buy "freely" like when the price of vegetables was still cheap.

Consumers are "shocked" when vegetable prices increase daily, many times higher than before. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

The price of green vegetables has "climbed" so high that consumers and housewives are shocked, considering their spending every time they go to the market, only daring to buy what is necessary in sufficient quantity, unable to waste. "More than a week ago, I bought a small green squash weighing only a few taels (grams) for 25,000 VND. When I heard the seller quote the price, I couldn't believe it, thinking I heard wrong. But the seller explained that this is the reality, the price of vegetables has increased and we don't know when it will stop" - Ms. Tran Thi My, in Tan Phong ward, Dong Nai province, shared.

Normally, many vegetable stalls in traditional markets will add onions and cilantro to each bag of vegetables and tubers for buyers. But now, green onions sometimes cost up to 80-90 thousand VND/kg (before it was only about 30 thousand VND/kg), causing small traders to fall into the situation: "If I don't give them away, I feel guilty, but if I give them away, I have to compensate for the loss."

The family has 3 members, but for the past few weeks, Ms. Le Thi Kieu Oanh (in Tran Bien ward, Dong Nai province) has had to consider and calculate her daily grocery spending. According to Ms. Oanh, the average cost of 3 meals for her family is about 120,000 VND/day, but now it has to increase to 180,000 VND/day because of the high prices of many essential items, from vegetables, meat, spices...

Lettuce prices have more than doubled compared to two weeks ago at Hoa An market. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

According to traders, the longer the floods and storms last, the higher the price of vegetables will be. Because of the prolonged rain, vegetables are difficult to grow, easily bruised, waterlogged and damaged. As a result, the supply has decreased sharply, causing the selling price to increase. At this price, both sellers and buyers have headaches, carefully considering when buying each bunch of vegetables and onion.

Many people think that this is an unprecedentedly high price and is also a difficult problem for both sellers and buyers. However, whether expensive or cheap, green vegetables and spices are still indispensable on the Vietnamese meal tray. And with the current high vegetable prices, many people have to calculate and save money when going to the market and only buy necessary vegetables, eat immediately, avoid spoilage and waste.

Bich Nhan

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/kinh-te/202511/ca-tieu-thuong-nguoi-tieu-dung-deu-soc-vi-gia-rau-80410af/