No fluctuations in consumer goods

Typhoon No. 3 caused severe damage to northern provinces and cities. The agricultural sector suffered significant losses, from crop cultivation to livestock and aquaculture, impacting the supply of consumer goods and food after the storm. However, thanks to the active involvement of relevant authorities, market management has been largely ensured, resolutely preventing hoarding and unreasonable price increases following the typhoon.

Immediately after the storm, facing the risk of soaring prices for consumer goods and affecting people's lives, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed Official Dispatch No. 95/CD-TTg on strengthening the supply of essential goods to serve the people in localities affected by Typhoon No. 3. This dispatch required ministries, sectors, and localities to strengthen market management and supervision, especially for food, fuel, and essential goods, ensuring that hoarding and unreasonable price increases do not occur, and to strictly handle violations; closely monitor market developments, prices, and supply and demand of essential goods for consumption, production, and business in their areas to proactively implement practical, timely, and effective solutions within their authority.

Basic food items are being controlled in terms of quality and price after typhoon No. 3.

The agricultural sector is urging and guiding localities to implement urgent measures to protect and restore agricultural production. All measures must be taken to drain water and prevent flooding as quickly as possible to minimize damage to agricultural production; promptly rescue areas of rice, crops, fruit trees, ornamental plants, etc., that are still flooded; guide people to implement specific measures to protect production, switch to crops and livestock suitable to the actual situation; take the lead in reviewing and compiling needs, coordinating with relevant agencies to propose to competent authorities the timely provision and support of plant and animal seeds, aquatic products, and various supplies and biological products for cultivation and animal husbandry to support people in restoring production immediately after the storm and flood.

Following the Prime Minister's directive, the Ministry of Industry and Trade requests that the Departments of Industry and Trade in the northern provinces and cities directly affected by storms, floods, and inundation closely monitor market developments, direct and coordinate with production and business units to implement measures to immediately utilize reserve goods and mobilize social resources to support and ensure sufficient supply of essential goods and items for post-storm recovery efforts in affected areas; and encourage, supervise, and require businesses dealing in essential goods, construction materials, repair supplies, textbooks, medicines, generators, power storage devices, water storage devices, etc., to fulfill their commitments to stabilize prices. Simultaneously, instruct commercial businesses and market management and operation units in the area to develop plans for supplying goods, strengthen connections, and seek additional sources of goods from other localities to ensure uninterrupted supply operations.

In Quang Ninh province, Typhoon No. 3 caused severe damage. Specifically, in the fisheries sector, over 1,000 cages and rafts for seafood farming were lost or swept away; in the agricultural sector, the total cultivated area damaged by the typhoon has exceeded 7,000 hectares, with over 6,600 hectares at risk of total loss; and in the livestock sector, over 388,000 head of cattle and poultry died, with the highest numbers in Dong Trieu town, Quang Yen town, Ha Long city, Uong Bi city, and Tien Yen district.

Given the significant damage to the agricultural sector and the increased risk of small traders exploiting the situation to raise prices of food, consumer goods, and other necessities, Quang Ninh province has requested the Department of Industry and Trade and the Provincial Market Management Department to strengthen propaganda, inspection, supervision, and handling of violations to maintain market stability. Specifically, market management teams throughout the province are intensifying inspections and supervision of business activities at supermarkets, traditional markets, and food and essential goods businesses serving the needs of the people. Simultaneously, businesses are required to sign commitments to comply with the law, not to exploit natural disasters and floods to hoard goods or raise prices unreasonably; and to ensure that goods sold have clear origins, guaranteed quality, and proper labeling in accordance with the law.

Thanks to improved market management, after the storm, basic goods, food, and essential products remained in sufficient supply to meet people's needs at controlled prices. Only a few items showed a slight upward trend due to limited supply, such as: green vegetables increased by 20-25%; generators, lamps, and rechargeable fans increased by 15-20%.

To ensure stable market prices and protect consumer rights, the provincial Department of Industry and Trade and Market Management are actively and proactively monitoring the supply and demand and prices of essential goods to regulate the market. They are also coordinating price management, inspecting and preventing hoarding, speculation, and price manipulation, and strictly handling violations.

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