Supermarkets may be hit the hardest this week amid Typhoon Gaemi’s visit to the island.
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Supermarket shelves are left bare as Typhoon Gaemi is set to make landfall in northern Taiwan late this Wednesday.
People rushed to grocery stores after 21 counties and cities across Taiwan announced school and office closures on Tuesday, battling to get their hands on fresh produce, and swiftly clearing out over half of what was on shelves.
One supermarket chain public relations spokesperson says stocking volume had to increase by over 50% to try to keep items on the shelves, with sales of bottled water increasing over tenfold. The most purchased items include eggs, leafy vegetables, fresh milk, and instant noodles.
While many people expected fresh produce prices to skyrocket, prices actually briefly fell in traditional markets on Wednesday. Prices are expected to return to normal by Friday, but many shoppers have still been pleasantly surprised to find leafy vegetables for 20-30% less than usual.