Hot weather, prices of many types of seafood are about to increase

Clam farming is done in a seasonal manner and can be harvested all year round, but the price of clams is highest during the hot season (around April to August every year). Therefore, these days, 9 clam farming households in Nghi Thiet tidal flat (Nghi Loc) are taking advantage of the opportunity to rake clams to sell to traders.

Mr. Phan Ngoc Hoi, the largest clam farmer in Nghi Thiet commune (4.3 hectares) said: “Clams are most valuable and easiest to sell during the hot season. The price is 5,000-10,000 VND/kg higher than other seasons. Currently, the price of clams ranges from 25,000-30,000 VND/kg. Most of them are sold wholesale to traders everywhere, imported to seafood restaurants in Vinh, Cua Lo...

Currently, in traditional markets, the price of clams is also higher than in March by 7,000-10,000 VND/kg; in seafood restaurants alone, clams that have been cleaned of sand cost up to 45,000-50,000 VND/kg. Not only clams but also other seafood such as crabs, mantis shrimps, flash squid, steamed squid... have all increased in price.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tai, owner of Tam Tai seafood facility (Nghi Thuy, Cua Lo town) said: "Seafood prices increase according to market demand, even increase by the day, especially during the tourist season. Currently, we mainly purchase from fishing boats in the area, fishing boats from other places docking at Cua Lo port.

In addition to selling wholesale to traders every day, we are selecting and classifying to freeze seafood to serve seafood restaurants during the peak tourist season."

According to a survey at traditional markets, seafood stalls are busier than before. Due to the hot weather, fresh fish, freshwater shrimp, frogs, etc. are in high demand and their prices are higher than before.

Ms. Phung Thi Hao - a seafood trader at Quan Lau market (Truong Thi ward, Vinh city) said: "The hot weather has caused the demand for seafood to increase dramatically, especially field crabs, mussels, and clams, increasing 10-15% compared to last week. Specifically, field crabs cost 120,000 - 130,000 VND/kg; clams cost 25,000 - 35,000 VND/kg; clams cost 20,000 VND/kg."

Ms. Duong Thi Nguyet, a housewife, said: “Because of the hot weather, my family has reduced meat in the daily menu, increased green vegetables, and cooked easy-to-eat soups such as clam and elephant ear soup, clam and sour soup, crab and jute soup, etc. Prices of aquatic and seafood products have increased slightly. Sellers explained that due to market demand, weather, and the tourist season, demand has increased and prices have increased. However, at present, with this increase, housewives like us still feel it is acceptable.”

Food stalls in supermarkets also increase the variety of frozen seafood, chilled seafood with stable prices and many incentives to attract customers. Mr. Phuong Hai, an employee at a food stall at a supermarket on Le Nin Street, said: “Here, there are a variety of frozen seafood, mainly imported from Ca Mau, Phu Quoc, Ninh Thuan… with stable prices and cheaper than Cua Lo seafood. Therefore, many people choose to buy when coming to the supermarket.”

Along with seafood, green vegetables such as Malabar spinach, jute, squash, gourd, water spinach... are also in high demand. The prices of green vegetables are stable. Currently, gourd, squash, pumpkin cost 15,000 - 20,000 VND/kg; water spinach, amaranth, malabar spinach, water spinach cost 7,000 - 10,000 VND/bunch; squash costs 20,000 VND/kg, tomatoes 35,000 VND/kg...

Traders at the market explained that the increase in purchasing power and the increase in prices of some vegetables were due to the hot weather, but also the limited supply of vegetables at this time, and the main harvest of some vegetables had ended, so vegetable prices were temporarily pushed up...