Jasmine prices surge ahead of Mother’s Day

Jasmine flower prices for Mother’s Day garlands have surged more than 30% compared with a year ago, forcing vendors to raise garland prices while absorbing part of the higher costs to avoid driving away customers.

Mother’s Day on August 12 always brings a significant increase in garland sales, with customers buying flowers to pay respects to their mothers and small retailers purchasing garlands for resale.

Jasmine flowers normally cost between 500 and 700 baht per kilogramme, but prices typically soar to well above 1,000 baht in the period immediately preceding Mother’s Day. This year, vendors say they are paying at least 30% more for raw materials than they did in August last year.

At the Chai Narong Market in Dan Khun Thot district of Nakhon Ratchasima, vendors said jasmine currently cost 400 to 500 baht more per kilogramme compared with a year ago. A flower shop owner said jasmine prices have increased from between 1,200 and 1,300 baht per kilogramme to between 1,600 and 1,800 baht this year. However, vendors are taking a cautious approach to ordering supplies, as ordering too much and being left with unsold stock could result in big losses.