Spending 17,400 billion to buy Chinese goods in the Vietnamese market at dirt-cheap prices

Import data from the General Department of Customs reveals a significant surge in Vietnam's fruit and vegetable imports from China, with the first 9 months of the year showing a 24.2% increase compared to the previous year, totaling 696.59 million USD. China has emerged as the primary supplier, contributing to nearly 42% of Vietnam's total fruit and vegetable import turnover, offering a wide range of fruits at competitive prices. These low prices, coupled with the rich variety and appealing designs, have made Chinese fruits immensely popular in the Vietnamese market. Despite being a retail store, Ms. Le Thi Hai Ha reported selling significant quantities of milk grapes and pomegranates, indicating the strong market demand for these inexpensive imports. The article highlights the challenges local producers face in competing with the influx of affordable Chinese fruits, underscoring the substantial market dominance of Chinese produce in Vietnam.

Preliminary statistics from the General Department of Customs show that in the first 9 months of this year, traders and businesses in our country spent 696.59 million USD (equivalent to about 17,400 billion VND) to buy Chinese fruits and vegetables, mainly fresh fruits. Compared to the same period last year, fruit and vegetable imports from China increased sharply by 24.2%. Accordingly, China is the largest supplier of these products to Vietnam, accounting for nearly 42% of the total fruit and vegetable import turnover in the past 9 months. In the market, from stores, supermarkets to markets, Chinese fruits are displayed everywhere. Notably, not only are there super cheap products priced from a few thousand VND per kg to more than 10,000-20,000 VND/kg, many VIP fruits and "noble" fruits are also flooding the market at dirt cheap prices. “Many types of Chinese fruits are VIP goods, ‘noble’ goods, and are at unprecedentedly low prices,” said Ms. Vu Mai Nhung, owner of a fresh ...