Vegetable prices in China have by and large remained stable since last weekend. The average prices in 2018 and 2019 both increased under the holiday influence after entering the year but were, in general, better in 2018 than in 2019. The main reason for this is that the country was hit by devastating typhoons in the summer of 2018, delaying the harvest in the later season to the period ramping up toward the Spring Festival in 2019. Moreover, in 2018, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai area saw two falls of snow in January 2018, the heaviest since 2008. These two incidents led to a slightly lower average price but better supply in 2019.
The current market is temporarily under the influence of weather conditions, such as snowfall in the north and rainfall in the south. Unfavorable weather conditions will bring inconvenience to vegetable harvest and transportation, but the weather in the south is generally normal, and the temperature is high, having a limited impact on vegetable growth. The overall supply conditions are better than in previous years.
It is expected that volume and prices this year will fall in the medium range among recent years. Prices in the period prior to the Spring Festival will increase slightly due to factors such as labor costs, freight, and the approach of the holiday, but no significant fluctuations are expected.
Source: Today's Headlines