Vegetable, pork prices rise in Taipei amid typhoon approach

Taipei, July 6 (CNA) The wholesale prices of vegetables and pork rose over the weekend in Taipei, which Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) officials attributed to the approach of Typhoon Danas and market expectations.

The average wholesale price of vegetables rose by NT$4.5 (US$0.16) per kilogram in Taipei on Sunday to NT$37.2 from a day earlier while the price of live pigs reached NT$107.33 per kilo on Saturday, up NT$0.6 from Friday, government statistics showed.

The volume of vegetable transactions at the Taipei Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market totaled 1,353 metric tons on Sunday, an increase of 86 tons from Saturday, according to figures from Taipei Agricultural Products Marketing Corp., the leading agricultural and food supplier in Taiwan.

The company said that although supplies increased as Typhoon Danas approached, expectations surrounding the storm led to heightened buying interest from wholesalers.

MOA officials said expectations of higher prices ahead of the typhoon and the market being closed on Monday led wholesalers to stock up on vegetables, leading to both higher volumes and prices.

Meanwhile, data from the National Animal Industry Foundation indicated that the live pig price (excluding those sold to frozen processing plants) was NT$107.33 per kilogram on Saturday, with 12,010 pigs traded.

Prices continue to rise, up from NT$106.67 on Friday, remaining above the NT$100 mark, the data showed.

Lee Yi-chien (李宜謙), head of the MOA's Department of Animal Industry, told reporters that the recent high pig prices are due in part to hot weather, which has reduced pigs' appetites and slowed weight gain.

As a result, fewer pigs are reaching market-ready weight, he said, and concerns about market closures due to the approaching typhoon also fueled more active auctions, contributing to the NT$107 per kilogram price.

As of 2 p.m. Sunday, the eye of Typhoon Danas was located 180 kilometers south-southwest of Penghu and moving north-northeast at 21 to 27 kilometers per hour, according to data from the Central Weather Administration.

It was carrying maximum sustained winds of 126 kph near its center, with gusts of up to 162 kph, the data showed.