Average vegetable prices rise, domestic market vegetable prices climb

According to monitoring by the Ministry of Agriculture, in the 35th week of 2016 (August 29, 2016 - September 4, 2016, the same below), the "National Agricultural Products Wholesale Price Index" was 210.62 (with 2000 as 100), up 5.11 points from the previous week; the "National Basket Products Wholesale Price Index" was 213.61 (with 2000 as 100), up 6.24 points from the previous week, with vegetables and eggs contributing the most. The total transaction volume of 60 varieties in 50 key monitored wholesale markets was 584,900 tons, down 2.3% from the previous week.

Egg prices rose slightly, while prices of pork, beef and mutton were flat to slightly lower. The weekly average price of eggs was 8.17 yuan per kg, up 4.6% week-on-week, the third consecutive week of increase, and down 11.4% year-on-year; pork was 25.05 yuan per kg, down 0.4% week-on-week and up 2.2% year-on-year; beef was 53.19 yuan per kg, down 0.2% week-on-week and down 1.3% year-on-year; mutton was 44.05 yuan per kg, down 0.6% week-on-week and down 7.5% year-on-year; white-striped chicken was 14.79 yuan per kg, down 0.3% week-on-week and up 0.5% year-on-year. The weekly transaction volume of the above 5 livestock products under key monitoring (total transaction volume of 50 key wholesale markets, the same below) was 15,700 tons, down 4.3% week-on-week.

Aquatic product prices showed a mix of rises and falls. The weekly average prices per kg of large hairtail, carp, bighead carp and grass carp were 32.17 yuan, 11.64 yuan, 11.78 yuan and 13.04 yuan respectively, up 1.8%, 0.4%, 0.4% and 0.2% week-on-week respectively; the weekly average prices per kg of silver carp, large yellow croaker and crucian carp were 6.86 yuan, 43.34 yuan and 17.88 yuan respectively, down 1.4%, 1.4% and 0.7% week-on-week respectively. The weekly transaction volume of 7 aquatic products was 12,000 tons, down 2.4% week-on-week.

Average vegetable prices rose. The weekly average price of 28 key monitored vegetables was 4.11 yuan per kg, up 8.2% week-on-week, the ninth consecutive week of increase, with the increase widening by 4.1 percentage points, and up 7.3% year-on-year. The market reflected that this year's climate was different from usual: summer vegetables came onto the market earlier, supply was ample, but they also left the market earlier than in previous years, resulting in a recent tightening of vegetable supply. Some common vegetables also showed gaps in supply, and prices rose rapidly. By variety, prices of 24 vegetables rose, 2 were flat, and 2 fell. Among them, tomatoes, zucchini and green beans rose the most, up 33.2%, 29.5% and 27.8% week-on-week respectively; onions and pumpkins were basically flat week-on-week; lotus root and potatoes fell 1.3% and 0.5% week-on-week respectively. The weekly transaction volume of 28 vegetables was 444,000 tons, up 1.4% week-on-week.

Most fruit prices rose. The weekly average price of 7 key monitored fruits was 4.95 yuan per kg, up 1.2% week-on-week and down 2.6% year-on-year. By variety, the weekly average prices of pineapple, watermelon, banana and Fuji apple rose 5.9%, 5.3%, 3.7% and 1.4% week-on-week respectively; Kyoho grape and Ya pear fell 2.7% and 1.7% week-on-week respectively. The weekly transaction volume of 7 fruits was 98,400 tons, down 15.9% week-on-week.