SHANGHAI/BEIJING, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The Chinese government has told families to keep daily necessities in stock in case of emergencies, after COVID-19 outbreaks and unusually heavy rains that caused a surge in vegetable prices raised concerns about supply shortages.
The commerce ministry directive late on Monday stirred some concern on domestic social media that it may have been triggered by heightened tensions with Taiwan, while some said people were rushing to stock up on rice, cooking oil and salt.
"As soon as this news came out, all the old people near me went crazy panic buying in the supermarket," wrote one user on China's Twitter-like Weibo.
Local media has also recently published lists of recommended goods to store at home including biscuits and instant noodles, vitamins, radios and flashlights.
The public response forced state media on Tuesday to try to soothe fears and clarify the ministry's statement.
The Economic Daily, a Communist Party-backed newspaper, told netizens not to have "too much of an overactive imagination" and that the directive's purpose was to make sure citizens were not caught off guard if there was a lockdown in their area.
The People's Daily said the ministry issues such notices every year, but had issued its instruction earlier this year because of natural disasters, the surge in vegetable prices and recent COVID-19 cases.
The ministry's statement late on Monday urged local authorities to do a good job in ensuring supply and stable prices, and to give early warnings of any supply problems.
Looking at global precip maps, there has been above average rain in parts of Eastern and southern China. Doesn't look extreme or unprecedented though........maybe even beneficial but it all depends on HOW it fell. If it all came at once..........it's damaging.
Speaking of damaging, the sources reporting extreme weather events have totally damaged their reputation for credibility for me. I've read hundreds of times now in the last decade about unprecedented extreme weather events because of climate change that turn out not to be so extreme.
With certainty, the 1 deg. warmer atmosphere can hold 7% more water vapor and rains ARE increasing, so it makes sense and for sure China had a wet growing season. But accurate, honest reports from China are sometimes hard to come by, then when you filter anything thru the climate change lens, it loses credibility.
So how bad was it?
Dunno.
Rains the last month below
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/Precip_Monitoring/Figures/global/n.30day.figb.gif
Rains the last 3 months below
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/Precip_Monitoring/Figures/global/n.90day.figb.gif
China told its residents to stock up on supplies amid shortage concerns ahead of winter. Such a message is not usually issued this early and it's caused some panic buying. Heavy rains, ruined crops, high prices and covid outbreaks are all factors.
This is the vegoil aisle in a small supermarket in central Kiev, Ukraine. Filled with sunflower oil, of course That blue labeled bottle center right (about 20 oz maybe) was going for around US $1.26 at the time (April 2016).
I was looking to see if this wet weather might be part of the reason that the cotton market is setting record high prices. But they grow most cotton waaaaaa far inland and northwest of the main growing regions. Didn't know that.
Although the minor growing regions probably had damage...........cotton doesn't like excessive moisture.......which is why they can grow it where they do in an area that doesn't get much rain.
I wonder how rice production was affected?
https://ipad.fas.usda.gov/rssiws/al/che_cropprod.aspx
https://ipad.fas.usda.gov/rssiws/al/crop_production_maps/China/China_Cotton.jpg
https://ipad.fas.usda.gov/rssiws/al/crop_production_maps/China/China_Corn.jpg
https://ipad.fas.usda.gov/rssiws/al/crop_production_maps/China/China_Soybean.jpg
https://ipad.fas.usda.gov/rssiws/al/crop_production_maps/China/China_Total_Rice.jpg
