March 5, 2008

Vietnam milk surge by 10 percent

Vietnam's major wholesalers raised powdered milk prices to nearly 7 percent last Saturday, while small shops increased prices by 10 percent.

Mead Johnson's official retail price for more than 30 kinds of milk climbed from 5 to 6 percent.

Abbott, Dumex and Nestle also increased theirs prices, with about 30 of Abbott products leaping from 4 to 6.9 percent at supermarkets.

Similac, Gain Advance and Pediasure, some of the biggest selling products in Vietnam, underwent the biggest increases.

Price of 900grams of Pediasure cost VND285,000 (US$17) one week ago. The current price is VND295,000 (US$18.52).

One customer reported that Ngoc Minh, a shop selling milk powder in Phu Nhuan District, increased Mead Johnson, Dumex and Nestle milk products by VND8,000 (US$0.50) to VND25,000 (US$1.57) a can.