This week's fruit wholesale market sees durian as the most popular item. However, other Southeast Asian fruits, like Thai coconuts and Vietnamese dragon fruits, are in short supply and out of stock due to local climate conditions.
Following a continuous decline in prices over the last two weeks, durian prices have stabilized this week, remaining roughly the same as last week. Midweek arrivals have increased. It is understood that there was a surge in market prices two days before Mother's Day last Sunday (May 12), which then gradually fell back. Currently, the price of Thai Monthong Durian A6 fruit is about ￥800 per piece, A7 is about ￥750-￥770 per piece; Vietnam Kanyao A3 fruit is about ￥260-￥270 per piece, with arrival volumes gradually increasing.
Left: Thai Monthong durians; Right: Thai coconuts
The number of Thai Monthong durian A6 fruits has increased, and the A7 grade fruits are now selling faster. Many merchants reported that the A7 fruits were sold out on the same day. According to merchant information, the cracking problem of recently arrived Thai Monthong durians has significantly improved, and the quality of the arrivals is better than earlier, which is conducive to sales.
Thai coconuts are out of stock at their origin, causing market prices to soar. According to merchants, the current sales price of large young coconut fruits is about ￥150 per piece, an increase of 25% from two weeks ago and nearly double compared to the same period in previous years. Many businesses that previously sold young coconuts are now selling other fruits due to the shortage. Some merchants mentioned that in previous years, young coconuts were in normal supply at this time, priced around ￥70-￥80 per piece. However, given the current production situation, prices are expected to remain high this month, with volume possibly increasing in June.
Left: South African grapefruits; right: Egyptian lime
The situation is similar with Vietnamese dragon fruits, whose prices continue to rise due to production area shortages. The current first-class fruit is about ￥210-￥230 per piece, 15%-25% higher than last week. According to merchants, prices once rose to ￥230-￥250 per piece around Mother's Day, then gradually fell back. Merchants said that supply at this time in previous years was normal, and the current price is about 25%-30% higher than the same period in previous years, which significantly impacts sales.
Regarding imported citrus, the arrival of South African grapefruit has increased recently, causing prices to drop by about 10%-15% compared to last week. The current price is about ￥220-240 per piece. Merchants noted that the quality of the arrived grapefruit is good, but the large volume has slowed sales. The current grapefruit price is higher than last year, but last year's prices were low. Compared to previous years, it is roughly the same. The price of Egyptian limes varies widely, ranging from ￥110-￥150 per piece, with the average price of about ￥120-￥130 per piece, slightly lower than in previous years. Merchants said that due to the large inventory of oranges produced in China this year, sales of Egyptian oranges were not as good as expected.
Left: Dalian cherries; Right: Lychee in premium packaging
High-quality packaged lychees produced in China are performing well. The number of lychees on the market is increasing, and prices are gradually falling. For instance, Baitangying lychee from Guangdong is currently sold in premium packaging for about ￥60 per piece (1.5kg), with the price reduced by about 25% from earlier.