Abundant supply, prices of live pigs and pork decrease

Prices drop sharply

In early 2025, the price of live pigs in Can Tho City and the Mekong Delta provinces was generally at 65,000-67,000 VND/kg, then the price of live pigs increased slightly on the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2025 and reached 67,000-69,000 VND/kg around the end of January and the first week of February 2025. In the last weeks of February and the beginning of March 2025, the price of live pigs suddenly increased sharply. By March 12, 2025, the price of live pigs in many provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta reached a record high, up to 80,000-82,000 VND/kg.

Buying and selling pork at Tan An market, Can Tho city.

By early April 2025, the price of live pigs in many places dropped to 66,000-77,000 VND/kg. In the following months, although there were fluctuations, the price of live pigs generally followed a downward trend compared to the price in the first months of the year. In particular, from July 2025 to now, the price of live pigs has continuously been adjusted downward and recently dropped to a quite low level. On October 3, 2025, the price of live pigs in Can Tho City and many provinces in the Mekong Delta was only 54,000-57,000 VND/kg (equivalent to 5.4-5.7 million VND/quintal). Compared to March 2025, the price of live pigs has decreased by about 25,000-26,000 VND/kg.

Following the sharp decline in live hog prices, the selling prices of many types of pork on the market have also decreased by 20,000-30,000 VND/kg compared to March and April 2025. At many markets and pork trading points in Can Tho City, the current price of baby back ribs is 150,000-160,000 VND/kg, while previously it was 170,000-180,000 VND/kg. The price of pork belly has gone from 140,000-150,000 VND/kg to only 120,000-125,000 VND/kg. The retail price of pork leg and lean meat in many places is 90,000-110,000 VND/kg, bones and hams are 70,000-80,000 VND/kg... This is also the lowest price since the beginning of 2025.

Weak purchasing power

The price of live hogs and pork has fallen sharply due to weak market consumption but abundant supply as many pigs have recently reached the age of sale. In addition, the supply of pork in the market has been enhanced by a significant amount of imported frozen pork.

Pork prices have dropped sharply, and the abundance of pork on the market has contributed to making it easier for consumers to shop and use. However, pork consumption in many markets in Can Tho City is quite slow.

Ms. Pham Thi Nghi, a pork vendor at Tan An market, Can Tho city, said: “When pork prices are high, many people are reluctant to spend money so they reduce their purchases, leading to weak consumption. Recently, pork prices have dropped sharply, creating many advantages for consumers. However, the number of people going to the market is low and many people tend to save money, so purchasing power is quite weak. Currently, I sell less than 100kg of pork per day.” Ms. Phan Ngoc Vu, a pork vendor at stall 3, Cai Khe Trade Center, Can Tho City, also said: “Recently, pork consumption has been quite slow, although the prices of many types of pork are at their lowest level since the beginning of the year. It seems that the recent price reduction of live pigs and pork is not enough to “stimulate” increased purchasing power. This is flood season, the market sells many types of fish at quite cheap prices. Besides pork, consumers can easily choose other fresh foods for their daily meals. In addition, people rarely organize parties at this time, so pork purchasing power is also affected.”

Every year, pork consumption often increases sharply in the last months of the year and during the Lunar New Year. Therefore, pork traders believe that pork purchasing power will soon improve. Although pork consumption is still slow, there have been signs of improvement thanks to lower prices and increased demand from some customers. According to many pork traders and businesses in Can Tho City, from the end of August and in September 2025, students at most schools in Can Tho City have returned to school normally after the summer vacation. Accordingly, many collective kitchens and restaurants have also been operating vigorously again, creating conditions for pork purchasing power to increase because pork can be processed into many dishes and is suitable for many people's tastes.

With the increasing number of supermarkets, shopping malls, convenience stores and e-commerce platforms, many people have reduced their trips to the market. Therefore, the consumption of pork and many other goods of traders in many markets has also been affected. In order to "retain" customers and increase the number of products sold, many pork traders in the market have been interested in applying e-commerce, expanding promotion and sales through social networking platforms, as well as improving service quality, ready to deliver to collective kitchens and customers when needed.

Article and photos: KHANH TRUNG

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/nguon-cung-doi-dao-gia-heo-hoi-va-thit-heo-giam-a191800.html