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JB veggie sellers raise prices for CNY

This article is more than 12 months old

Traders in Johor Baru are taking advantage of the festive season to hike up the prices of vegetables by as much as 70 per cent - and blaming suppliers for the low supply.

A check by The Star at four wet markets in Kip Mart, Tebrau, Larkin and Taman Johor Jaya showed that the prices of long beans, ladies' fingers and other vegetables were far more costly than normal.

Mr S. Vinot, a trader, said the price of ladies' fingers went up by about 70 per cent - from RM3.80 (S$1.30) to RM6.50 (S$2.20) per kg.

He said: "Prices of other beans increased by 60 per cent - to RM8 from RM5 per kilo.

"My supplier updates me daily on the prices as they have not been stable for the past few days. Prices would go up or down by between 60 sen and RM1."

He added that his suppliers said there was not enough stock.

LONG BEANS

Mr Baihaqi Hashim, 30, a vegetable seller, said there was an increase of 66 per cent in the prices of long beans.

He told The Star: "It is now RM7.50 per kilo, from RM4.50 earlier this month.

"My suppliers had already told me that they would not be available during the holidays, so I have to make big orders to stock up."

On the bright side, prices of other vegetables like Chinese cabbage remained steady.

And there was a marginal hike in the price of fish.

Mr Heng Hing Chui, 45, a fish trader, said the prices for yellowtail scad went up to RM18.50, from RM18 per kg, and grade A squid prices went up from RM28 to RM30 per kg.

chinese new yearFood & DrinkUncategorisedJohor BahruJB