Fruit, vegetable and meat prices increased sharply in HCM City last week amid the prolonged heavy rain in the south and rising gasoline prices.

The price of pork has increased by VND15,000-30,000 per kilogramme since early this month to VND120,000-180,000 (US$5.1-7.7), and that of chicken by VND10,000-15,000 to around VND60,000.

A kilogramme of pork rib at Ong Dia Market in Tan Binh District costs VND180,000, while bacon is VND160,000 and cutlets, VND140,000.

The price of piglets is up 20 per cent from two months ago.

The rises have been blamed on high transportation and feed costs.

Egg prices have also increased sharply, and they retail at VND4,000-4,300 per chicken egg and VND4,300 in the case of duck eggs.

But farmers, however, are still suffering losses because of the high prices of packaging, fuel and other inputs.

On June 21 the price of RON92 gasoline increased to VND31,300, and that of RON95 to VND32,870.

Food producers said the rising prices of ingredients and transportation have forced them to hike prices.

Besides pork, poultry and eggs, the prices of vegetables have also increased sharply, with kohlrabi, scallion, onion, tomato, lemon, and peppers increasing by VND3,000-10,000 per kilogramme since May.

Runner bean costs VND42,000, bok choy costs VND38,000, calabash costs VND39,000, Dutch tomato costs VND49,000, water spinach costs VND35,000, and choysum costs VND38,000.

Nguyen Trung Hieu, a vegetable supplier in Da Lat, said the rainy weather in his city had made it difficult to grow enough to supply Da Nang, HCM City and Can Tho.

His one hectare garden that usually yields 30 tonnes of vegetables only produced over 10 tonnes, he said.

Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, a vegetable seller in Xom Moi Market in HCM City's Go Vap District, said the prices of lettuce had increased from VND10,000 to 15,000 per kilogramme like all other vegetables from Da Lat. — VNS