Chinese Green Kiwi Prices Plummet in Vietnam

Chinese green kiwi prices have plummeted to a record low in Vietnam's wholesale and online markets. Online vendors are offering 10 kg boxes for 200,000 VND, translating to a mere 20,000 VND per kg. This remarkably low price contrasts sharply with the fruit's previous luxury image.

Some vendors on Le Duc Tho Street in Go Vap District are even selling Chinese kiwi misleadingly labeled as originating from New Zealand. Ms. Thanh Hoa, a kiwi wholesaler near Thu Duc Agricultural Market in Ho Chi Minh City, confirms this year's price is the lowest in recent memory. "I import thousands of boxes at a time, securing incredibly low prices. This allows me to offer wholesale prices to retailers between 20,000-30,000 VND per kg," she explains. Small retailers and street vendors sell fresh fruit for 50,000-80,000 VND per kg, with some employing eye-catching tactics like "35,000 VND for half a kg" signs to attract customers.

In stark contrast, kiwi from Australia and New Zealand, even with recent price drops, remain significantly more expensive at 120,000-200,000 VND per kg retail (60,000-120,000 VND wholesale), more than double the price of their Chinese counterpart. China's dominance in kiwi production stems from its ideal growing conditions in temperate provinces like Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Henan. Coupled with modern agricultural processing techniques and large-scale production, China minimizes costs, resulting in a massive supply and highly competitive prices. Chinese green kiwi is typically round, uniform in size (around 6 fruits per kg), with hairy, non-shiny skin, and a less elongated shape compared to Australian or New Zealand varieties. They are known for their firmness and extended shelf life with proper storage. Experts recommend selecting firm Chinese kiwi fruits and avoiding soft ones, which may indicate prolonged or improper storage. The fruit is usually packaged in 9-10 kg baskets or boxes. An import company representative attributes the low price of Chinese kiwi to high yields, low labor costs, and advanced technology. Optimized transportation further contributes to lower prices upon arrival in Vietnam.

Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, acknowledges China's leading role in supplying affordable agricultural products due to its modern breeding technology. "They utilize varieties from other countries and rapidly propagate them with low labor costs, resulting in competitively priced products," he states. However, he cautions consumers to exercise vigilance when purchasing inexpensive fruit, advising against products with unclear origins or questionable quality. According to the General Department of Customs, Vietnam spent nearly 800 million USD importing agricultural products from China in the first ten months of the year, a 24% increase compared to the same period last year. Key imports include apples, grapes, persimmons, kiwi, and garlic.