Lest you’re not aware, it’s currently rainy season in Malaysia and Singapore is not benefitting much from it.
Due to the heavy rains, the price of vegetable imports from Malaysia has been increasing by 10 per cent to 30 per cent.
According to the Malaysian meteorological department, the rain could last till February 2023 due to the annual northeast monsoon.
This has affected crop-producing areas in Melaka and the Cameron Highlands, and vegetable markets such as in Kuala Lumpur.
The overall supply of vegetables has also dipped by around 20 to 30 per cent, according to the president of the Malaysian wholesaler vegetable association.
And it, of course, doesn’t take long before we can feel the effects.
Unfortunately, it has just hit us where it hurts the most.
Chillis.
Prices of Chillis Have Increased in S’pore Due to Poor Weather in M’sia
Reporters from Shin Min Daily News visited wet markets in Singapore this morning (11 September) and found out how bad it was.
Some stalls weren’t able to get any red chilli peppers, most commonly known to us as merely chillis (the big ones, not chilli padi that can burn your tongue).
In stalls that were able to get stocks from their suppliers, they didn’t receive the full amount that they ordered.
Due to the lower supply, the red chillis were sold out in two hours.
The lower supply also led to a price increase: a vendor said he used to sell the red chillis at $7 to $8 per kilogram, but was selling them at around $10 to $12 per kilogram.
The reason for the drastic increase?
Suppliers were also jacking up their prices, selling them to vendors at almost $9 per kilogram.
However, the prices of other vegetables being sold are currently still stable, although suppliers have increased the prices by a little.
It is possible to important chillis from other countries.
In fact, red chillis from Vietnam are much cheaper and a good alternative however, according to some people, these chillis are not as spicy as Malaysian chillis.
In other words, it’s all about the taste…again.
You can watch this video to understand how a chicken shortage led to a chicken export ban in Malaysia:
Featured Image: MG Best For You / Shutterstock.com
