Air conditioners were hot items at electronics stores in HCM City as temperatures climbed to uncomfortable highs (Photo: VNA)HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Sales of air conditioners andfruits in HCM City soared in recent days as a heat wave hit the area.
Over the weekend, Nguyen Kim, one of the largest chains ofelectronics stores in the city, was packed with customers looking for airconditioners, fans and refrigerators.
A similar scene was seen at the Thien Hoa store in Go Vap district.
Tran Tan Hoang Hau, marketing director of Thien Hoa Electronicsand Furniture Shopping Centre, said the sales of air conditioners, fans andrefrigerators increased dramatically in the last two weeks. Some items saw a300 percent increase in sales.
This year, the hot season came a little later than previous years.
Demand for air conditioners was sluggish after Tet (LunarNew Year) in January, but electronics centres made sure they had ample supplyfor the season.
A representative from Nguyen Kim said the demand for electronicmaintenance had recently risen, including cleaning and repairing airconditioners. Costs of maintenance services have risen by 15 to 20 percentcompared to the rainy season.
On average, cleaning an air conditioner costs 150,000-200,000 VND(6.5-8.7 USD) while installation costs 300,000-350,000 VND (13-15.2 USD).
Hot weather has also caused a spike in demand for certain foods,especially water-based fruits and vegetables.
Vo Thanh Duong, deputy head of Phuoc An Co-operative in BinhChanh district, said that prices of ingredients to make nuoc mat (traditionalwater usually made from sugarcane and imperatae) have risen.
Duong said the price of a package of nuoc mat ingredientsproduced by his company had increased by 2,000-3,000 VND, compared to when theweather was cooler.
Demand for cucumbers and bitter melons rose, but their pricesremained stable at 10,000 VND and 11,000-12,000 VND per kilo, respectively. Asvegetable yields improved during the dry season, their prices did not changemuch, Duong said.
Citrus fruits like oranges, pomelos and tangerines are alsotypically favoured in hot weather conditions.
However, Dung Quy Dong, owner of Quy Dong Farm in Binh Phuoc province,said the price for these fruits has increased as the harvest season has notarrived yet.
The price of tangerines sold at orchards in the southeast regionwent up by 5,000-7,000 VND to 22,000–27,000 VND per kilo.
A kilo of green-skin pomelos now sells for45,000–55,000 VND, up byabout 10,000-15,000 VND.
According to Dong, demand for citrus fruits will continue to surgeas the heat wave has also affected the northern region.-VNA
VNA
