Fish prices rise in HCM City

The rising costs of inputs like ice, electricity and water have been forcing wholesalers to hike prices for fish in HCM City.

Prices of common varieties like scad, bluefish and mackerel have gone up by 20-30 per cent at traditional markets in the last month.

A kilogramme of scad and mackerel cost VND32,000-VND42,000 and VND145,000-VND 170,000.

Squid prices have spurted by 40-50 per cent as a shortage of supply too is biting.

At supermarkets, the price rises are more moderate at 5-15 per cent.

Bui Hanh Thu, deputy general director of Saigon Co.op, said by signing contracts directly with fish wholesalers, Saigon Co.op has managed to ensure stable supply while reducing intermediate costs.

Tuoi Tre newspaper quoted Nguyen Doan Phu, deputy director of Binh Dien Market Management and Trading Company, as saying that the difference between wholesale and retail prices has now risen to 25-35 per cent from 10-15 per cent.

A kilogramme of bluefish, for instance, now costs VND28,000-35,000 at Binh Dien wholesale market in District 8 and VND38,000-42,000 at traditional markets.

Supply chain

In Phuoc Tinh fishing village in southern coastal Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, fishermen usually sell their catch to wholesalers through brokers, with the agents taking VND1,000 for a kilogramme.

At wholesale shops, the fishes are classified based on variety and quality and distributed to wholesale markets and fish agents in HCM City.

From there, the fish make their way to retail markets and shops.

Tran Van Be, who owns two fishing vessels, said earlier this year, when diesel cost VND14,000 a litre, a kilogramme of many varieties of fish, cost VND14,000.

But now, while diesel costs VND21,000 a litre, fish prices have increased to just VND15,000-16,000.

Some prices of fishes like amberjack have even fallen by VND2,000, he said.

With fuel costs increasing, many fishing boats have cut back on trips to sea, he said.

However, fresh fish is being imported from Malaysia and Indonesia.

If fishermen were to continue to go to sea for fishing, they need support from the Government, fishermen said. — VNS

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