HK residents in frenzy for milk powder, abalone
By Wang Qingchu and Xu Chi |
March 15, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
HONG Kong residents snatched up milk powder and abalone imported from Japan in fear future items would be tainted with radiation or be in short supply after a devastating earthquake and tsunami struck Japan.
A total of 20 kilograms of Japan imported abalones worth nearly HK$350,000 (US$44,918) were sold within just two hours in a seafood store in Hong Kong. Some residents started to queue to buy milk powder in the early morning, further tightening supplies, Hong Kong-based Sing Tao Daily reported yesterday.
"I have never seen such robust sales," said an individual surnamed Poon, who manages a seafood store. Around 20 kilograms of abalone were sold within 2 hours, eight times more than usual. People just snapped up the products and didn't even look at the price tag, Poon added.
Customers, mainly Hong Kong residents, stocked up on the goods as they were afraid the earthquake could affect supplies and that prices might soar. A lot of abalone producers are along the northeastern coast of Japan, areas hit severely by the earthquake and tsunami, Poon said.
Current stocks could last several months and prices might rise 20 to 30 percent after supplies were exhausted, Poon told the newspaper.
Many parents complained on the Internet that they can not buy imported Japanese milk powder. Some worried the next batch transported to Hong Kong might be contaminated by radiation. They scrambled to either buy current stock or switched to brands imported from other countries.
A vendor from a Shenzhen-based store on Taobao.com said Japanese milk powder manufacturers have not yet resumed production. The vender added they could, for the time being, no longer import such items from either Japan or Hong Kong.
In his store, an 850-gram can of Meiji infant milk powder was selling for 160 yuan (US$24) compared to about 140 yuan before the quake.
A total of 20 kilograms of Japan imported abalones worth nearly HK$350,000 (US$44,918) were sold within just two hours in a seafood store in Hong Kong. Some residents started to queue to buy milk powder in the early morning, further tightening supplies, Hong Kong-based Sing Tao Daily reported yesterday.
"I have never seen such robust sales," said an individual surnamed Poon, who manages a seafood store. Around 20 kilograms of abalone were sold within 2 hours, eight times more than usual. People just snapped up the products and didn't even look at the price tag, Poon added.
Customers, mainly Hong Kong residents, stocked up on the goods as they were afraid the earthquake could affect supplies and that prices might soar. A lot of abalone producers are along the northeastern coast of Japan, areas hit severely by the earthquake and tsunami, Poon said.
Current stocks could last several months and prices might rise 20 to 30 percent after supplies were exhausted, Poon told the newspaper.
Many parents complained on the Internet that they can not buy imported Japanese milk powder. Some worried the next batch transported to Hong Kong might be contaminated by radiation. They scrambled to either buy current stock or switched to brands imported from other countries.
A vendor from a Shenzhen-based store on Taobao.com said Japanese milk powder manufacturers have not yet resumed production. The vender added they could, for the time being, no longer import such items from either Japan or Hong Kong.
In his store, an 850-gram can of Meiji infant milk powder was selling for 160 yuan (US$24) compared to about 140 yuan before the quake.
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