Countries competing to buy garlic from China

[Cao Pi]

Thursday August 12, 2010

Countries competing to buy garlic from China

United States, Spain, Argentina, Myanmar and Ukraine.

Chuah said many countries, including garlic producers, were competing with each other to buy garlic from China since April. Most of them are now raising a stink over the price increase. “Importers paying US$3,000 (RM9,600) for a tonne of garlic now compared to US$800 (RM2,560) tonne last year are worried,” he said.

Fama director (market information system) Abdul Ghariff Ramin said Malaysia imported RM221.26mil worth of garlic last year. Even the people in China are not spared the price increase. China Daily reported that garlic was selling at about RM5 (10 yuan) per kilo in China in May compared with RM1 (2 yuan) in the same period the year before.

In May, Herald Sun in Australia reported that consumers were being charged up to RM87 (A$30) a kilo, double the usual price due to a global shortage of the bulb. Its much touted health benefits, coupled by the swine flu that swept China last year, had also created a massive demand for garlic. Restaurant Associations and Teh Koo Soo Pan Malaysia president Yap Yook Wah said: “I have never bought garlic at such a high price for many years.”

Yap, a managing director of 12 restaurants in the Hee Lai Ton and Palace chain, said the price hike would not affect the quality of food at his establishments. “My chefs will not cut down on the use of garlic,” he said. Y.L. Choi, a South Korean residing in the capital, said the price of garlic in Malaysia was considered cheap compared to the RM23-RM30 per kilo in Seoul.

 

[Cao Pi]

Stink over garlic price hike


Aug 12, 2010
Stink over garlic price hike

<!-- by line --> <!-- end by line --> KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIAN housewives will now have to pay almost RM10 (S$4.28) for a kg of garlic due to limited supply as a result of the floods in China. Some higher grade garlic even cost more than RM10. The price also varies according to location. The wholesale price for garlic, which used to be between RM3 and RM3.50 per kg, has shot up to RM8.50 per kg.

The condiment that is known for its health benefits and potency to ward off vampires can't seem to fight off the forces of nature as the price increase is due to the floods in China. Malaysia Foodstuff Import and Export Association president Datuk Chuah Poh Khiong explained that the shortage of garlic was caused by China's massive floods, particularly in garlic producing areas like Henan and Shandong. 'Malaysia imports 100 per cent of its garlic from China,' he told The Star.

China is the world's top producer of garlic, accounting for about 77 per cent of global production. Other garlic producers include India, South Korea, Egypt, Russia, United States, Spain, Argentina, Myanmar and Ukraine. Mr Chuah said many countries, including garlic producers, were competing with each other to buy garlic from China since April. Most of them are now raising a stink over the price increase. 'Importers are paying US$3,000 (S$4,094) for a tonne of garlic now compared to US$800 tonne last year are getting worried,' he said.

Fama director (market information system) Abdul Ghariff Ramin said Malaysia imported RM221.26 million worth of garlic last year. Even the people in China are not spared the price increase. China Daily reported that garlic was selling at about RM5 per kg in China in May compared with RM1 in the same period the year. In May, Herald Sun in Australia reported that consumers were being charged up to RM87 a kg, double the usual price due to a global shortage of the bulb. -- THE STAR