China’s New Persimmon Variety Proves Popular in Vietnam

According to a recent report by online newspaper VnExpress, Huohulu persimmons (火葫芦蜜柿) grown in northern China are proving unexpectedly popular on the Vietnamese market. Typically priced at just 10 to 15 Chinese yuan ($1.38–2.07) per kilogram in China, these persimmons double in price upon entering Vietnam.

A fruit shop owner in Hanoi said that she initially stocked about 100 kilograms of these persimmons, which sold out completely on the same day. The persimmons, each weighing around 40 grams, feature a jelly-like texture when ripe and boast a sweet taste. They are priced at 80,000 to 100,000 Vietnamese dong ($3.15–3.93) per kilogram.

In Ho Chi Minh City, demand for the persimmons is equally high, both online and offline, with prices ranging from 100,000 to 120,000 dong ($3.93–4.72) per kilogram — two to three times those of local Vietnamese persimmons.

Hong Nga, a trader specializing in fruit imports at the Lao Cai border crossing, noted that she initially purchased 5 metric tons of Huohulu persimmons from China on a trial basis and found them extremely popular with customers. She now imports them in bulk and distributes them to cities throughout the country, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.

A carton of Huohulu persimmons typically weighs 12 kilograms and costs approximately 360,000 dong ($14.16) at the Lao Cai border crossing. After distribution across Vietnam, however, the retail price is two to four times higher.

Previously, Vietnam primarily imported crunchy persimmons from China. This year marks the first large-scale export of Huohulu persimmons to the Vietnamese market. Owing to their very soft texture when ripe, these persimmons were once limited to domestic sales as they were prone to damage during transport. However, recent advances in preservation and packaging have now made it possible to export them successfully to neighboring countries such as Vietnam, South Korea and Japan.

In the first nine months of this year, Vietnam imported $700 million worth of fruits and vegetables from China, representing a year-on-year increase of 39%. Popular items included apples, garlic, onions, persimmons and table grapes.

Image: Pixabay

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article.