Rising Prices of Vegetables and Fresh Produce Imported from Malaysia

23 Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the prices of vegetables and fresh produce imported from Malaysia have risen since June 2021; (b) if so, what are the underlying causes; and (c) how can the Government help to mitigate the impact of cost increases, especially for families.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: MTI does not capture the consumer price index (CPI) of specific food sources. However, the CPI of leafy and fruit vegetables, which Malaysia is a source for, rose by less than 1% in June 2021. This small increase was likely contributed by increased business costs due to Malaysia’s recent Enhanced Movement Control Orders (EMCO) across the country, as well as seasonal weather that reduced crop supply.

To mitigate the impact of such supply fluctuations, Singapore has been diversifying our import sources of vegetables and produce to keep prices stable. The Government also continues to assist Singapore families in various ways. For example, MSF’s Social Service Offices (SSOs) provide ComCare assistance to low-income households to support their daily living expenses such as food, clothing, transportation and communications. From time to time, the Government also introduces one-off support measures to help Singaporeans with their household expenses during periods of economic uncertainty, such as the Budget 2020 Grocery Vouchers Scheme.