Vegetable prices in retail markets rose yesterday as Typhoon Soudelor approached the nation, amid fears that bad weather would cut supplies, market statistics showed yesterday.
The statistics indicated that cabbages were selling at NT$100 per kilogram, up from about NT$58 per kilogram on Wednesday.
The Central Weather Bureau issued a sea alert for Soudelor yesterday morning and a land alert in the evening.
As of 5:30pm yesterday, Soudelor was centered 790km east-southeast of Hualien, moving west-northwesterly and packing maximum sustained winds of 162kph, with gusts reaching 198kph.
According to the Taipei agricultural product market, the average wholesale vegetable price was quoted at NT$36.9 per kilogram, up 4.23 percent from NT$35.4 recorded the previous day.
In addition to cabbages, other leafy vegetables were more expensive amid fears over likely typhoon damage, market statistics showed.
The average wholesale price of water spinach rose 27.6 percent from a day earlier to NT$39.3 per kilogram, while amaranth was priced 28.51 percent higher at NT$30.2 per kilogram.
At retail markets, a bunch of leafy vegetables weighing about 250g provided by traditional markets cost consumers NT$20 to NT$25.
On Wednesday, three bunches of leafy vegetables were being sold for NT$50 in retail markets.
In supermarkets, a bunch of certain leafy vegetables weighing 250g was priced at NT$32 to NT$43, according to market statistics.
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