Chinese chocolate persimmon hits record low prices in Vietnam

Chinese chocolate persimmons are currently being sold at record low prices in Vietnam, with vendors in HCMC and Hanoi offering them for around VND30,000 each. This price point is 10% lower than other persimmon varieties in the country, including the Da Lat variety, which costs up to VND60,000. The chocolate persimmon, also known as Fuji persimmon, originated in Japan but is now cultivated in several countries, including South Korea, China, and Vietnam.

Its name comes from the brown patches on the flesh that resemble chocolate and become more prominent as the fruit ripens. The fruit can be consumed while still firm, boasting crisp and sweet flesh with no astringency. Larger, seedless fruits from Shanxi, China, can grow up to 7.5 centimeters in diameter and are considered a seasonal delicacy.

In HCMC, fruit seller Hoa notes that these chocolate persimmons are among her top-selling items due to their distinctive appearance, sweetness, and crunch. Hanoi wholesale fruit supplier Thanh attributes the price drop to a higher supply of the fruit this year, as limited availability in previous years kept prices elevated. Wholesale prices in Shanxi for large orders range from CNY0.8 to CNY1.2 per jin (half a kilogram), or VND6,000 to VND9,300 per kilogram.

Chinese e-commerce platforms also offer relatively low retail prices, with a 1.5-kilogram box of crisp Shanxi chocolate persimmons advertised for CNY14.9, or VND38,500 per kilogram. Importers report that chocolate persimmons are mainly distributed directly to stores and vendors at traditional markets, rather than through wholesale markets.

According to customs data, Vietnam imported nearly $900 million worth of fruits and vegetables from China in the first eight months of the year, a 51% increase compared to the same period last year. Among the top fruit imports are grapes, apples, pears, and persimmons.