A spokesperson from FairPrice said that vegetable prices in Singapore have remained generally stable, with hardy vegetables like cucumbers and bitter gourds seeing an increase of about 5% to 15%.
This is because of the wet spells that Malaysia is facing, resulting in prices of vegetables increasing by about 30% to 40% in Malaysia.
About 64% of Singapore’s vegetables are imported from Malaysia.
FairPrice have progressively adjusted the prices since last month and the situation in Malaysia is being monitored closely/
FairPrice also imports their vegetables from other regions such as Thailand, Indonesia and China, as well as farms in Singapore.
Cold Storage and Giant, which are run by DFI Retail Group, said that a number of their produce items have increase in price, but the prices of essentials such as vegetable are as low as they have been for the last 14 months.
Malaysia monsoon season
According to CNA, Malaysia has been experienced a lot of rainfall this monsoon season, more than in previous monsoons, which is hurting their vegetable growing production.
Besdies the unfavorable weather, The secretary of Cameron Highlands Vegetable Growers Association, Chay Ee Mong said that manpower shortages and the rising costs are also affecting the prices of vegetables.
SFA also said that they have been importing food from more than 170 countries and regions, and that importers have turned to alternate sources from other countries.
The SFA will also continue to monitor the situation and work with importers.