Prices for vegetable, egg imports from Malaysia rise due to rainy weather

Ng Lian Cheong/Evelyn Choo, Channel NewsAsia 16 Nov 09;

SINGAPORE: Continuous rainfalls have caused egg and vegetable imports from Malaysia to increase in price.

Egg prices have jumped four times since October but the rate of imports from Malaysia stays at three million eggs per day. This accounts for 75 per cent of the local supply of fresh eggs. Currently, a batch of ten eggs cost between S$1.30 and S$2.

The rain has also led to poor vegetable harvests in Malaysia, causing prices to escalate by ten per cent.

Most of these are leafy vegetables, including Chinese cabbage and Chinese spinach, which come mainly from Johor, Kulai, and Kota Tinggi.

A merchant at the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre said this year's wet season came about a month earlier. As a result, supplies from Malaysia dropped by about 20 to 30 per cent.

In order to ensure a stable supply, vegetable suppliers have looked to other countries like China and Thailand for imports. - CNA/vm


Vegetable prices up in Little India due to heavy rains in India & Malaysia
Channel NewsAsia 19 Nov 09;

SINGAPORE: Heavy rains in vegetable exporting countries, such as India and Malaysia, have caused a price hike in shops at Little India.

Onions, an important ingredient in Indian cooking, now cost double - at S$2 per kilogramme, compared to a dollar previously.

Lady's finger, brinjal and other vegetables, imported from India and Malaysia, have seen a 30 per cent price increase.

Vegetables sellers said prices will go higher if the rains continue.

- CNA/sc