One week post-holiday, fruit prices have generally declined due to falling market demand. Importantly, there's a gradual increase in both the variety and quantity of imported fruits, with Chilean plums and grapes emerging as the primary products.
Within the imported grape selection, Peruvian green grapes are showing an improved performance, with prices surpassing pre-festival levels. Presently, large box specifications command approximately ¥335/piece, marking a 15% increase, while certain small boxes have seen almost a 50% rise. Merchants note that pre-holiday, green grape sales were sluggish despite price reductions. However, with the conclusion of cherry season, grape prices rebounded. Yet, merchants report recent price hikes impacting sales. Conversely, Sable black grapes maintain relatively stable prices. Australian seedless red grapes made their debut after the Chinese New Year, with prices aligning closely to historical levels, albeit slightly elevated due to the early production season.
Left: Australian seedless red grape; Right: Sable black grape
During the two days of Chinese New Year, Chilean cherry prices soared. Although the production season is concluding, prices remain resilient. For instance, a 2J 5KG large box fetches over ¥300, while a 4J two-in-one large fruit costs about ¥510/piece. Merchants attribute this resilience to dwindling end-of-season volumes and improved quality. Despite earlier supply constraints, increased volume and stabilized quality sustained demand, thus bolstering prices.
Chilean Candy Red Plum, Cherry Plum
Various Chilean plum varieties, notably Cherry Plum and Candy Red, dominate the market. Candy Red plums, in particular, are favored by consumers. Merchants acknowledge a previous batch's shortcomings in hardness, which dampened sales and led to a market decline. However, the current batch exhibits superior quality and hardness. Large plastic frames have gained popularity in packaging due to their cost-effectiveness. Consequently, Chilean plum prices have dropped by approximately 15% compared to pre-festival levels.
Chilean plums predominantly arrive via air freight, with a minority via sea. Merchants express dissatisfaction with sea freight quality, favoring air transport. Nonetheless, post-New Year plums exhibit improved quality. Currently, plums are air-shipped in 2J cartons within small boxes, priced around ¥210-¥220/piece for high-quality specimens.
Left: Domestic blueberries; Right: Egyptian oranges
Domestic blueberry production has surged, maintaining stable prices since late January. Prices for 15mm+ blueberries hover around ¥140/piece, while 18mm+ variants fetch ¥170-180/piece. Festival-induced price hikes of 10%-15% did not impede sales. Merchants anticipate price drops with increased volume, with L25 blueberries leading in popularity. High-quality Chilean blueberries retail for approximately ¥110/piece, albeit experiencing weaker sales due to their sour taste and inferior quality compared to domestic counterparts.
Vietnamese GanYao durians
Imported durians, now in the off-season, witness limited arrivals and inflated prices, resulting in reduced market activity. Thai Monthong A6 fruits are priced at around ¥1,500/box, while Vietnamese GanYao A3 fruits are roughly ¥420/box, with the latter commanding the largest volume. Despite selling briskly during the holiday at ¥580-¥600/box, demand has since waned, prompting price declines. Merchants highlight Vietnam's rainy season as a potential quality and sales deterrent due to anticipated heavy rainfall.