Continue to propose to increase and stabilize pork prices

On March 13, Mr. Phan Van Dung, Deputy General Director of Vissan Company, said that due to pressure on input costs, Vissan proposed to adjust the price of stabilized pork to increase by 6-7% and apply from March 17 if approved by the Department of Finance.

Specifically, the price of shoulder and armpit meat increased from 156,000 to 167,000 VND/kg (an increase of 11,000 VND/kg), pork leg - ham from 132,000 to 141,000 VND/kg (an increase of 9,000 VND/kg), lean thigh and shoulder from 177,000 to 188,000 VND/kg (an increase of 11,000 VND/kg)...

"We have not received any feedback from the state management agency on whether to increase the selling price of pork in the market stabilization program as proposed or not. If the price of live pigs continues to increase as it is now, the unit will face more difficulties with the old selling price," said a representative of Vissan.

On March 3, the Department of Finance decided to allow an increase in the retail price of pork in the market stabilization program based on the input price of live pigs at VND74,000/kg.

However, according to businesses, since the beginning of March, the price of live pigs in the market has been increasing continuously. Specifically, as of March 10, this business had to buy live pigs at the input price of 79,000 VND/kg, an increase of nearly 7% compared to the base price on March 3.

According to the regulations of the market stabilization program, enterprises can propose to increase prices when raw material prices and input costs increase by more than 3% compared to the previous announcement.

Previously, following a proposal from businesses, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Finance increased the selling price of many pork products in the market stabilization program from March 3.

Chicken prices plummet

While pork prices are soaring, poultry prices are moving in the opposite direction. On March 13, a survey of the chicken market at some traditional markets in Ho Chi Minh City showed that chicken prices are falling sharply compared to previous years.

For example, at Ba Chieu market (Binh Thanh district), Xom Moi market (Go Vap district), Pham Van Hai market (Tan Binh district) and Tan Dinh market (District 1), chicken prices are very cheap, but traders all say "cheap prices but no one buys them".

Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh (a trader at Tan Dinh market) said there are two types of chicken: free-range chicken (local chicken) and industrial chicken. Live local chicken costs 130,000 VND/kg, ready-made industrial chicken costs 80,000 VND/kg.

According to records at supermarkets in Ho Chi Minh City, ready-made chickens at supermarkets have different prices, from 120,000 - 164,000 VND/kg; ready-made whole industrial chickens are 60,000 - 65,000 VND/kg.

In some groups on social networks, chickens are sold at very cheap prices, ranging from 100,000 - 130,000 VND/kg. Specialty chickens for the king such as Dong Tao chicken (Hung Yen), Ho chicken (Bac Ninh) are sold at a "slightly" higher price of 250,000 - 500,000 VND/kg depending on the type.

According to retailers, chicken prices have decreased but customers are ignoring it, sluggish purchasing power has led to slow consumption of goods.

"If I can't even sell a dozen kilos of chicken in the morning, how can I be interested in wholesale? After Tet, chicken prices have never dropped as much as they have now. I also supply meat to rice shops, but chicken rice is also sluggish. In the past, I sold whatever I wanted, and after a month or so, I would sell it, freeze it, and then resell it at a cheaper price, so I couldn't make a profit," said Ms. Anh.

Not only has the price of chicken meat dropped sharply, the price of chicken eggs has also dropped dramatically. At some farms in Dong Nai province, the average price of chicken eggs sold at the farm is 1,000 - 2,000 VND/egg. However, the price of chicken eggs "reaching" consumers is from 2,200 - 3,000 VND/egg.

Egg prices are too low and consumption is slow, making it difficult for farmers to cover feed and care costs and incur losses.