This week, fruit prices have risen for certain varieties due to reduced arrivals, including apples and plums. Meanwhile, with the Qingming Festival approaching, demand for fruits such as grapes and blueberries has increased, driving faster sales.
The supply of New Zealand apples has declined recently, pushing prices up by approximately 10% compared to last week. Traders dealing in imported apples from various origins noted that while New Zealand apple prices remain relatively low, they have also influenced the market for American apples. The price of American Gala apples has dropped by about 15-20% compared to previous years. Meanwhile, the price of South African Flash Gala apples remains stable, and traders report that the latest arrivals have a good flavor. New Zealand Posy apples have recently arrived in bulk and are currently selling for around $83 per box, approximately 15% lower than their initial price.
Left: American Gala apples; right: Various imported apples
Ahead of the Qingming Festival, demand for imported grapes has increased, leading to slight price rises for some varieties, such as Australian grapes. Traders noted that Chilean Autumn Crisp grapes are performing well in both pricing and sales volume, primarily due to their excellent taste upon arrival; however, supply remains limited.
Chilean grapes
The market for Egyptian oranges remains stable, with only a modest volume of arrivals. According to traders, premium brands are currently selling for around $21 per box, comparable to last year's prices, while other brands average around $20 per box. The overall quality of arrivals has improved compared to last year. Meanwhile, the price of American oranges remains strong.
In the stone fruit category, the supply of Chilean plums is gradually decreasing following the recent arrival of large sea shipments. Currently, J-class plums in plastic frames are selling for around $32 per box, marking a slight increase from last week. Among different sizes, the J-class is particularly popular due to its balance of size and affordability. The volume of Chilean Sweet Mary plums increased this week, with both plastic-frame and carton packaging available. The price of the carton-packaged variety remains close to last week's levels.
Left: Chilean plums; right: Chilean Sweet Mary plums
Blueberry prices rebounded in the second half of the week, with variations depending on brand and quality. Yunnan blueberries are currently selling for an average of $15–$18 per box, while some premium brands and varieties reach $21 per box. In contrast, the price of Guangdong-produced blueberries had dropped last week due to an oversupply but has now rebounded to around $14 per box. Overall, blueberry sales remain strong. Regarding Yunnan blueberries, traders report that sales have been particularly robust. Despite higher production volumes this year, fruit quality has improved compared to last year, and market acceptance is increasing annually. Traders also noted that last year's excessive rainfall in Yunnan negatively impacted blueberry quality, whereas this year's favorable weather conditions have significantly enhanced the fruit's quality.
Different packaging of Yunnan blueberries
The volume of imported durians has gradually increased compared to a few weeks ago, though overall supply remains limited, keeping prices high. Thai Monthong A6 durians are currently selling for around $180–$208 per box. Due to the high costs, traders remain cautious in their purchasing, but they anticipate an increase in arrivals next month.
Left: Vietnamese Kanyao durians; Right: Thai Monthong durians
Vietnamese dragon fruit prices were high in previous weeks due to supply shortages, but recent increases in supply have led to a significant price drop this week. First-grade white-flesh dragon fruit is now selling for around $21–$22 per box, reflecting a decrease of approximately $2–$3 per box compared to last week. Traders noted that high prices had dampened sales, while lower-grade fruits (second to fourth grade) are selling better due to their more affordable pricing. They also mentioned that last year's production shortages led to particularly high prices, making large-sized fruits the slowest sellers at the time.
The supply of Philippine pineapples remains low, keeping prices elevated at around $22–$29 per box. However, traders expect a supply increase next month.