Hóc Môn wholesale market before its temporary closure. — Photo laodong.vn

HCM CITY — Goods from other cities and provinces that were to be sold at the Hóc Môn District agricultural products wholesale market in HCM City that will be shut for a week since yesterday due to  COVID-19 outbreak will now be diverted to Bình Điền and Thủ Đức wholesale markets, according to the city Department of Industry and Trade.  

Nineteen cases were detected in the Hóc Môn market and more related to it were found in other localities, and as a result the district People’s Committee signed an emergency order suspending delivery of goods there between June 28 and July 4.

To prevent a disruption in the supply of goods, especially food and foodstuffs, the department has instructed modern retail outlets and firms participating in the city’s price stabilisation programme to increase the supply of goods to compensate for the temporary closure of the market.

The department and related authorities have promised to keep a close eye on the market to ensure adequate supply and come up with measures to deliver goods to traditional markets or organise wholesale points for traders at traditional markets.

The city will strengthen mobile sales to ensure adequate supply of essential food products to meet the consumption needs of the city.

The department has worked with businesses and districts to ensure no small trader will abruptly increase the price of goods.

Nguyễn Nguyên Phương, deputy director of the department, said the total volume of agricultural products and foods to wholesale markets on June 27 was more than 6,500 tonnes, the same as normal.

Whatever the situation, authorities and key businesses would ensure supply of goods is always adequate, provided people do not hoard since that would put great pressure on supply, he said.

The department said the 1,962 food supply points (106 supermarkets, 220 traditional markets and 1,636 convenience stores) in the city have stockpiling plans in place to ensure the supply of food and essential items is adequate.

With the largest pork wholesale market in the city having to temporarily shut down, retailers said they had plans to increase pork stock to fully meet demand and not increase prices.

A Saigon Co.op spokesperson said on knowing that the Hóc Môn wholesale market would be temporarily closed, Saigon Co.op had doubled the stock of pork at its Co.opmart, Co.opXtra and Co.op Food.

Similarly, Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Thương, sourcing department manager at Bách Hóa Xanh, said her chain had increased the stock of goods in the city by 180 per cent, with a focus on pork, vegetables, tubers, and fruits.

"We can further increase stocks if needed and offer online shopping and home delivery. We will meet demand.”

A Vissan spokesperson said the company would increase the supply of fresh pork to make up for the shortfall due to closure of the Hóc Môn market.

Hóc Môn is one of the city’s three largest wholesale markets, selling 3,500-4,000 pork, 2,000 tonnes of vegetables and 1,000 tonnes of fruits every day. — VNS