AsemconnectVietnam - Vietnam’s agricultural markets showed sharply diverging trends on Saturday, with domestic pepper prices rebounding strongly during the harvest season while coffee and durian prices fell steeply. Meanwhile, rice, live hogs, and rubber moved in mixed directions, with most markets trading sideways or seeing only modest regional fluctuations.

Pepper prices rose amid harvest activity
Domestic pepper prices rose again on Saturday morning after several volatile sessions, supported by active buying during the main harvest period.
Farm-gate prices in key producing areas ranged between 143,500 and 146,500 dong per kilogram, up 1,500–2,500 dong from the previous day.
The sharpest increase was recorded in Lam Dong province – which now includes areas previously belonging to Dak Nong – where prices climbed 2,500 dong to reach 146,500 dong per kg, the highest level in the domestic market.
In Dak Lak, pepper prices rose 2,000 dong to about 146,000 dong per kg, while Dong Nai posted a similar increase, lifting prices to around 144,000 dong per kg.
Other key producing regions saw more moderate gains. Prices in Gia Lai rose by roughly 1,500 dong to 143,500 dong per kg, while the former Ba Ria–Vung Tau area, now administratively part of Ho Chi Minh City, reached about 144,500 dong per kg.
On the global market, pepper prices remained largely stable.
Data from the International Pepper Community (IPC) showed that Indonesia’s black pepper export price edged slightly lower to $7,014 per metric ton.
Elsewhere, Brazil’s ASTA 570 black pepper was quoted at around $6,100 per ton, while Malaysia’s black pepper stood significantly higher at roughly $9,100 per ton.
Vietnam’s black pepper export prices were reported between $6,300 and $6,400 per ton.
In the white pepper segment, Indonesian prices slipped to $9,287 per ton, while Malaysia and Vietnam remained stable at approximately $12,100 per ton and $9,050 per ton, respectively.
Coffee fell sharply in domestic and global markets
Vietnam’s coffee market extended losses on March 15 after a brief recovery in the previous session, tracking steep declines in global futures.
Across the Central Highlands, the country’s main coffee-growing region, the average farm-gate price dropped to around 90,600 dong per kg, down 3,200–3,500 dong from the previous day and marking the lowest level in several weeks.
The former Dak Nong area – now part of Lam Dong – continued to record the highest price in the region at 90,700 dong per kg, despite a fall of 3,200 dong.
Prices in Dak Lak and Gia Lai both slid 3,500 dong to about 90,500 dong per kg.
The domestic downturn mirrored developments in global markets overnight.
Robusta coffee futures on the London exchange dropped nearly 5% to about $3,455 per ton, while Arabica futures on the New York exchange declined to around 285.15 U.S. cents per pound.
Market analysts said short-term pressure from speculative selling and improving supply expectations continued to weigh on prices.
In the near term, analysts forecast Vietnam’s domestic coffee prices may fluctuate in a range of 89,000–92,000 dong per kg before finding new upward momentum.
Durian prices plunged sharply
Durian prices recorded one of the steepest adjustments in the agricultural market on Saturday, particularly for Thai durian and the Ri6 variety, with prices falling 20,000–25,000 dong per kg in several producing areas.
In the Mekong Delta, premium Thai durian (VIP Grade A) dropped to 140,000–160,000 dong per kg.
Grade B Thai durian fell to 120,000–140,000 dong per kg, while Grade C was quoted between 68,000 and 85,000 dong per kg.
For standard Thai durian, Grade A fruit traded at 162,000–165,000 dong per kg, while Grade B was priced at 140,000–142,000 dong per kg.
Lower-quality fruit and off-grade produce saw the steepest declines, with some trading at just 22,000–70,000 dong per kg depending on quality.
The popular Ri6 durian also experienced sharp losses. Grade A fruit at wholesale depots dropped to 80,000–85,000 dong per kg, while Grade B was priced between 65,000 and 70,000 dong per kg.
One rare bright spot was Musang King durian, which posted a modest increase, with Grade A fruit currently selling at around 133,000–140,000 dong per kg.
Rice market quiet as traders wait
Rice trading in the Mekong Delta slowed on March 15 as traders adopted a wait-and-see approach amid expectations that prices could stabilize.
According to data from the An Giang Department of Agriculture and Environment, prices of fresh paddy remained largely unchanged.
The OM 18 variety held steady at 6,000–6,100 dong per kg, while Dai Thom 8 traded between 6,100 and 6,200 dong per kg.
Other varieties such as IR 50404, OM 5451, and OM 34 also maintained stable price levels seen in recent days.
While paddy prices were steady, export-grade rice materials recorded slight declines.
CL 555 raw rice fell 150 dong to 7,800–7,900 dong per kg, while OM 5451 raw rice slipped 100 dong to 8,450–8,550 dong per kg.
Retail rice prices, however, remained unchanged across common white rice, fragrant rice and specialty varieties.
On the export market, Vietnam’s 5% broken fragrant rice was quoted at $400–$415 per ton, while 100% broken rice traded at $316–$320 per ton.
Live hog prices mixed nationwide
Vietnam’s live hog market showed mixed movements across regions on March 15, with national prices ranging between 60,000 and 66,000 dong per kg.
In northern Vietnam, the market was largely stable. Hung Yen was the only locality to record a gain, rising 1,000 dong to 63,000 dong per kg, matching prices in Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong, Cao Bang, and Dien Bien.
Other northern provinces maintained prices between 60,000 and 62,000 dong per kg.
In the central and Central Highlands regions, movements were mixed. Nghe An and Ha Tinh each rose 1,000 dong, reaching 62,000 dong and 61,000 dong per kg, respectively.
By contrast, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, and Lam Dong saw slight declines, with prices retreating to 62,000–65,000 dong per kg.
In southern Vietnam, prices weakened in several provinces.
Localities including Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, An Giang, Ca Mau, and Can Tho each dropped 1,000 dong to about 65,000 dong per kg.
Ho Chi Minh City remained the only southern market holding steady at the regional peak of 66,000 dong per kg.
Rubber prices stable domestically
Domestic rubber prices continued to trade sideways. At Mang Yang Rubber Company, fresh latex was purchased at 458–463 dong per TSC kg, while mixed coagulated rubber ranged between 404 and 459 dong per kg, depending on grade.
Phu Rieng Rubber Company listed fresh latex at 440 dong per TSC kg, while scrap rubber was priced at 400 dong per DRC kg. Other companies such as Ba Ria Rubber and Binh Long Rubber also maintained previously established price levels
Globally, the Asian rubber market ended the week with diverging trends. The Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) posted a solid recovery, with the March contract rising 2.67% in the final trading session.
However, the Shanghai Futures Exchange faced downward pressure amid rising inventories and weakening domestic demand in China.
Meanwhile, the Singapore Exchange maintained a relatively balanced supply-demand environment, with prices moving in a narrow range of 195–199 U.S. cents per kg.
Source: Vitic