As Vietnam gears up for the Lunar New Year of the Snake, the Tet market dynamics present a unique set of opportunities and challenges for high-tech greenhouse growers. The demand for imported cherries has surged, with prices reaching up to 2 million VND/kg (approximately $82), underscoring their popularity as a premium gift item. Sourced from countries including Chile, Australia, and New Zealand, these cherries have seen a significant price increase from previous years, with the cheapest varieties now starting at 220,000 VND/kg ($9). Despite the economic constraints affecting many families' Tet budgets, premium cherries are quickly selling out, indicating a strong market demand for high-quality produce.
Conversely, the market for "rescued" durians, which were returned from China due to shipping delays and are now being sold at a reduced price of 50,000 VND/kg (around $2), highlights the volatility and unpredictability of export markets. These durians, marketed as export-quality at attractive prices, have seen a surge in demand, with sellers offering a one-to-one replacement policy for any defective fruit, demonstrating the potential for high-quality, competitively priced products to capture consumer interest.
Meanwhile, the spike in prices for green bananas in northern Vietnam, where costs have doubled from last year to 450,000–500,000 VND per bunch (approximately $18–20), reveals the impact of regional supply chain dynamics on product availability and pricing. The transportation of more affordable green bananas from southern Vietnam to meet the demand in the north underscores the importance of efficient logistics and cold chain management in maintaining product quality and extending shelf life, particularly for products sensitive to transportation conditions.
The challenges facing flower farmers in Hanoi's Tay Tuu district, with dropping prices for chrysanthemums and violet flowers due to overproduction, contrast with the rising prices for roses, driven by limited supply following adverse weather conditions. This situation highlights the need for market-responsive production planning and the potential benefits of controlled environment agriculture in managing supply to meet specific market demands.
The Tet market trends in Vietnam illustrate the diverse opportunities and challenges within the agricultural sector, emphasizing the importance of quality, supply chain efficiency, and market responsiveness for high-tech greenhouse growers aiming to capitalize on festive season demand.
Source: Vietnam.net Global