In Demand for Fresh Areca Nuts: Quang Ngai Traders Pay over 50,000 VND per Kilogram Despite High Cost

Fresh areca nuts are currently being sold at a price of over 50,000 VND per kilogram in Quang Ngai province, almost five times higher than last year at the same time. Despite the high cost, traders are competing to purchase fresh areca nuts to maintain their business relationships.

Throughout the rural and mountainous areas of Quang Ngai province, traders are actively buying fresh areca nuts from gardens. The current purchase price per kilogram of fresh nuts at the garden is around 50,000 – 55,000 VND. The price of areca nuts fluctuates depending on supply and demand, as well as the Chinese market, which is the main consumer of this product.

Once purchased, traders transport the fresh areca nuts to collection points where they are separated from stems and fruits before being dried. Typically, 7-8 kg of fresh nuts will yield 1 kg of dried areca nuts which are then exported to China for candy production. Areca nuts are in high demand during Tet with prices exceeding 100,000 VND per kg before gradually decreasing in the summer when prices typically stand at around 10,