This week coincides with the five-day Labor Day holiday. The response of the fruit market mirrors that of regular days, with no significant increase in foot traffic. Among imported fruits, durian and mangosteen are attracting the most attention.
The influx of durians has notably risen compared to last week, prompting an immediate increase in buyers. Thai Monthong durians dominate the arrivals, leading to a price drop of approximately 20% compared to the previous week. Presently, Thai Monthong A6 fruits are selling for about ¥850-¥880 per piece. However, there's a scarcity of A6 fruits, with a rise in the proportion of A7 and A8 varieties. Merchants attribute this shift to the diminished production of large fruits meeting A6 specifications, resulting in a ¥30 difference in price between A7 and A6.
Left: Thai coconuts; Right: Thai Monthong durians
The price of Thai coconuts has been steadily climbing since mid-April, attributed to shortages at the source. Young coconut prices have surged from ¥95 per piece two weeks ago to approximately ¥120 per piece now, marking a 25% increase, with polished coconuts priced slightly higher. Merchants note that Thai coconut prices typically rise during this period due to supply shortages in the production area. However, the rate of increase varies annually. For instance, last year saw young coconut prices rise to about ¥90 per piece during the same period, while this year and the previous year witnessed increases to ¥120 per piece. After last year's price hike, sales were brisk; however, this year, sales have been relatively sluggish, possibly due to reduced supply or lower demand compared to the previous year. Some merchants have resorted to limited sales due to the restricted supply volume.
Vietnamese dragon fruit also commands a high price due to its limited origin. First-grade fruits are presently selling for approximately ¥170-185 per piece, representing a slight uptick from last week. Merchants anticipate that this upward trend will persist.
Left: Chilean Crimson Fall plums; Right: Egyptian limes
Imported oranges, including American oranges, Egyptian limes, and Spanish oranges, are available. The price of American oranges remains stable at ¥460-¥470 per piece. However, despite better quality compared to last year, slow sales persist due to increased costs. Egyptian lime arrivals are on the rise, though sales are sluggish.
As the imported stone fruit season draws to a close, Chilean Crimson Fall plums dominate the market. Premium-quality fruits in cartons have seen a slight price increase, with carton packaging outselling normal plastic frame packaging.
Left: Greek kiwifruits; right: New Zealand red pears
Yunnan blueberry arrivals remain limited, with a slight price decrease from last week and recent sales slowing down. Greek kiwifruit sales are fewer this year due to unsatisfactory market conditions, with prices remaining consistent with previous years.
Yunnan bayberries
New Zealand red pears have been newly introduced to the market, commanding a relatively high price. Yunnan bayberry is available in small quantities, with prices similar to previous years. The large fruit sells for about ¥125/piece (4 kilograms) and has good sales due to limited supply.