Hoai Tram recently visited a local coconut vendor on Truong Sa Street in Ho Chi Minh City to purchase a fresh coconut drink and a dozen peeled coconuts to store in her refrigerator. She was shocked to discover that the prices had skyrocketed compared to just a few weeks prior.
When she inquired with the vendor, she was told: “I’ve only increased the price by 2,000 – 3,000 VND per coconut, but the wholesale suppliers have nearly doubled their prices. Fresh coconuts are expensive and hard to come by. Every time I go to get stock, it’s a struggle. Sometimes I can’t buy any coconuts at all, so I have to close my shop” – the vendor lamented.
Dinh Hoan, a resident of Phu Nhuan district who frequently purchases coconuts, also noted that the prices have increased significantly over the past few weeks.
“Whole coconuts are priced at 13,000 – 15,000 – 17,000 VND each, which is about 2,000 VND more per coconut, but they’re also smaller than before. Some vendors who sell pre-cut coconuts in bags have kept the price the same, but the bags are smaller or the coconuts are young and the water is sour” – complained Hoan.
Demand for fresh coconuts to beat the summer heat is soaring
Nguyen Trung Dung, a representative of the Coco Power coconut brand in Ben Tre, confirmed that the price of coconuts purchased directly from the orchard has risen to 110,000 – 130,000 VND per dozen (12 coconuts), compared to just 50,000 – 70,000 VND per dozen last month.
“There has been a trend of harvesting young coconuts to increase yields, which has contributed to the shortage of coconuts during the prolonged dry season” – lamented Dung.
Cao Ba Dang Khoa, Deputy Permanent Chairman and General Secretary of the Vietnam Coconut Association, stated that it is customary for coconut prices to increase during the hot season. However, this year, the price of fresh coconuts at the orchard is 50%-60% higher than the average for previous years.
“The rise in tourism and positive media coverage has led to increased consumer demand for fresh coconuts as a way to cool down. In addition, the involvement of numerous investors, particularly in start-up projects, has made fresh coconuts more accessible (simply by opening the lid or inserting a straw) without the need for the strenuous task of cutting them open” – analyzed Khoa.
According to Khoa, the price of this fruit is likely to increase further if China officially opens its borders to Vietnamese fresh coconuts in the coming months. Currently, numerous Chinese business delegations have visited Vietnam to secure supplies in preparation for the upcoming official trade.
