Mangoes grown in the Mekong Delta are fetching high prices thanks to high demand from supermarkets and in export markets and low supply due to unseasonable weather.

Hoang, a mango farmer in An Giang Province, said prices are 20% up from last year, with the three-color mango going for VND15,000 (US$0.6) per kilogram and Hoa Loc mango for VND30,000-33,000.

A hectare of mango is earning growers profits of VND80-120 million though this year’s yield is 30% lower than usual due to unusually hot weather.

Thang, a farmer in Dong Thap Province, said yellow “Cat Chu” mangoes are favored by supermarkets in Vietnam and countries like the U.S. and New Zealand.

“This type of mango is small and sweet and not fibrous like many other varieties, and so it is very popular with consumers.”

Tran Quang Truong An, director of GAP Cho Moi Fruit Cooperative in An Giang Province, which has 600 mango-growing households, said this year’s March-June crop fetched high profits because the fruit sells for higher prices at supermarkets than in traditional markets.

On average members earned profits of VND2,000-4,000 per kilogram, he said.

“In addition to exporting, this year we are promoting sales of high-grade mangoes at local supermarkets because prices are high and remain steady and not volatile like at smaller outlets,” he said. “We started selling mangoes in early March, and demand at some supermarkets is increasing.”

Vietnamese mangoes are in much greater demand than those imported from Cambodia and Thailand since they are often cheaper.

Nguyen Thi Bich Van, communications director at Central Retail Group, said mangoes sold domestically meet the quality standards set for imports by the U.S. and Australia.

To stimulate demand, supermarkets owned by Central Retail are offering discounts of up to 40% on mangoes. Some outlets are selling one ton a day.

From the end of March, when it is the peak mango season, supermarkets will buy more of the fruit.

Nguyen Thanh Huan, deputy director of the An Giang Department of Industry and Trade, said the province is trying to export its mangoes to more markets and sell it to more domestic supermarket chains.

Recently, for the first time, the province exported 13 tons of mangoes to South Korea.

An Giang has 17,900 hectares of orchards, including 12,000 ha of mango, of which Cho Moi District accounts for 6,400 ha.

VnExpress