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

Clam farming is spread out to harvest all year round, but clams are most valuable during the hot season (around April to August every year). Therefore, these days, 9 clam farming households in Nghi Thiet tidal flat (Nghi Loc) take advantage of the opportunity to rake clams to sell to traders.

Mr. Phan Ngoc Hoi, the largest clam farmer in Nghi Thiet commune (4.3ha) 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 7,000-10,000 VND/kg higher than in March; 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 shrimp, flash squid, steamed squid... have all increased in price.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tai, owner of Tam Tai seafood establishment (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, stalls selling aquatic and seafood products are busier than before. Due to the hot weather, fresh fish, freshwater shrimp, frogs, etc. are consumed strongly 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 by 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 cut down on meat in the daily menu, increased the amount of green vegetables, and cooked easy-to-eat soups such as clam and elephant foot yam soup, clam and sour soup, crab and jute soup, etc. The 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, housewives like us still feel that this increase is acceptable.”

Food stalls in supermarkets also increase frozen seafood and chilled seafood at stable prices and with 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 and aquatic products, mainly imported from Ca Mau, Phu Quoc, Ninh Thuan… with stable prices and cheaper than Cua Lo seafood. Therefore, many people choose to buy them 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 are priced at 15,000 - 20,000 VND/kg; spinach, amaranth, Malabar spinach, and jute are priced at 7,000 - 10,000 VND/bunch; squash is priced at 20,000 VND/kg, tomatoes are priced at 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...