HCM CITY – Sales of air conditioners and fruit in HCM City soared in recent days as a heat wave hit the area.

Over the weekend, Nguyễn Kim, one of the largest chains of electronics stores in the city, was packed with customers looking for air conditioners, fans and refrigerators.

A similar scene was seen at the Thiên Hòa store in Gò Vấp District.

Trần Tấn Hoàng Hậu, marketing director of Thiên Hòa Electronics and Furniture Shopping Centre, said the sales of air conditioners, fans and refrigerators increased dramatically in the last two weeks. Some items saw a 300 per cent increase in sales.

This year, the hot season came a little later than previous years.

Demand for air conditioners was sluggish after Tết (Lunar New Year) in January, but electronics centres made sure they had ample supply for the season.

A representative from Nguyễn Kim said the demand for electronic maintenance had recently risen, including cleaning and repairing air conditioners. Costs of maintenance services have risen by 15 to 20 per cent compared to the rainy season.

On average, cleaning an air conditioner costs VNĐ150,000-200,000 (US$6.5-8.7) while installation costs VNĐ300,000-350,000 ($13-15.2).

Demand for vegetables, fruit

Hot weather has also caused a spike in demand for certain foods, especially water-based fruit and vegetables.

Võ Thành Dương, deputy head of Phước An Co-operative in Bình Chánh District, said that prices of ingredients to make nước mát (traditional water usually made from sugarcane and imperatae) have risen.

Dương said the price of a package of nước mát ingredients produced by his company had increased by VNĐ2,000-3,000, compared to when the weather was cooler. 

Demand for cucumbers and bitter melons rose, but their prices remained stable at VNĐ10,000 and VNĐ11,000-12,000 per kilo, respectively. As vegetable yields improved during the dry season, their prices did not change much, Dương said.

Citrus fruits like oranges, pomelos and tangerines are also typically favoured in hot weather conditions.

However, Dụng Quý Đông, owner of Quý Đông Farm in Bình Phước Province, said the price for these fruits has increased as the harvest season has not arrived yet.

The price of tangerines sold at orchards in the southeast region went up by VNĐ5,000-7,000 to VNĐ22,000–27,000 per kilo.

A kilo of green-skin pomelos now sells for VNĐ45,000–55,000, up by about VNĐ10,000-15,000.

According to Đông, demand for citrus fruits will continue to surge as the heat wave has also affected the northern region. — VNS