The market supply has been abundant but the vegetable prices kept increasing throughout October. It is only now, for the first time this year, that prices have started to decline: down 2.5% in a month and 18.4% from last year.
The Beijing vegetable price always reaches its peak during the winter and spring. It usually starts to increase around November. This year, however, because the weather in the main supply areas in North, Middle and East China has been rather good, the market supply is abundant. This suppresses the prices. Furthermore, because North China experienced rain and lower temperatures in October, the autumn and winter vegetable supply came earlier, leading to an increase in the price. After the start of the winter, however, there is only limited room for the price to rise even more.
On the Xinfadi Market, the prices for "household vegetables", like Chinese cabbage, dropped 30%. A representative of Xinfadi explains that the price of the main vegetables dropped, but that other vegetables, such as white gourds, cauliflower, broccoli and Chinese lettuce, saw a price increase, because there was only a small harvest. The price for luffa and bitter melons will probably increase as well. Because the low temperatures in October delayed the entry of string beans on the market, their price might also go up.
Source: Beijing News