Lian Cheong/Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia 22 Jan 10;
SINGAPORE: It may be a more expensive Lunar New Year this year. Suppliers expect prices of Mandarin oranges and some vegetables to go up by about 10 per cent.
They said the recent cold spell has resulted in a smaller supply.
Singapore's supply of mandarin oranges comes mainly from China and Taiwan. But extreme weather, like the hurricane in Taiwan in August last year, has reduced mandarin orange supply by about a third.
Rising freight charges have added on to the costs as well.
A cold spell in the Chinese provinces of Shantung and Fujian has also reduced supply of vegetables like cabbages, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and spring onions.
The vice-chairman of the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre, a major supplier, said prices of these vegetables will go up by 10 per cent from Monday, with prices expected to stabilise only after the Lunar New Year period.
- CNA/sc
