A citizen visiting the Gyeongdong Market in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul is selecting cabbages. /News1
‘Due to alternating heatwaves and heavy rains, the price of cabbages is rising rapidly.’
According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) agricultural distribution information on the 19th, the average retail price of a head of cabbage on the 18th was 7,062 won, up 9.3% compared to the previous year (6,463 won). Compared to a month ago (4,642 won), it rose by a significant 52.1%. Typically, cabbage prices start increasing at the end of August and are highest around the kimchi-making season and the Chuseok holiday in September to October, but this year the prices have surged since early to mid-August.
The rise in cabbage prices is attributed to abnormal weather conditions. The alternating rains and scorching heat damage the market quality of cabbages and result in many cabbages melting away. A representative from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said, “From last month to early this month, the repeating heatwaves and rain have severely affected cabbage quality.”
However, the wholesale price of cabbage has been on a decline. As of the 18th, the average wholesale price of a 10kg batch of cabbages was 19,380 won, down 10.7% from last year (21,700 won). This is because temperatures in major cabbage production areas in the highland regions of Gangwon Province have dropped since mid-August, leading to an increase in recent shipments, and the government is also releasing its reserve supplies. Retail prices tend to follow wholesale price trends with a lag of about 2-3 weeks, so the government expects retail prices to stabilize if the weather conditions remain favorable.
Apart from cabbages, the average retail price of one radish was 2,588 won as of the 18th, which is 18% cheaper than last year, while a head of cabbage was 4,526 won, up 3.3%. Tomatoes were 5,571 won per kilogram, an 11.1% increase from last year.