Supplies for Qingming festival at S'pore stalls hit by price hikes & shipping delays amid Middle East conflict

Lamp oil prices in Singapore have risen by up to 10 per cent, and shipments of joss paper and paper offerings have also been delayed as the ongoing Middle East conflict continues to disrupt global shipping ahead of the Qingming Festival on Apr. 5.

Also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, Qingming is a traditional Chinese festival in which families honour their ancestors through grave cleaning and offerings.

Increase in freight costs and delivery times

According to Shin Min Daily News, Zhang Huisheng (transliteration), owner of religious goods wholesaler Ban Kah Hiang Trading, said overall shipping costs have risen sharply since the conflict began.

Sea freight per container has climbed from S$1,500 to around S$1,800, and higher fuel prices have also pushed up the cost of transporting containers from the port by truck.

Zhang said he initially tried to absorb the costs himself, but as the situation remained tense, he had no choice but to increase overall wholesale prices by about 10 per cent.

Shipping times have also increased.

Goods that previously took two to three weeks to arrive now take three to four weeks to reach port, Zhang said, noting that some joss paper is currently out of stock just as demand picks up ahead of the festival.

"If orders are placed now, the goods cannot be delivered in time. This has become a major challenge."

The director of Shim Mor Religious Supplies noted that lamp oil prices have also risen by around 10 per cent. A 2-litre bottle of regular lamp oil now retails at S$5, up from S$4.50, while a premium 2-litre bottle has increased from S$6–S$7 to S$8.

She added that two containers carrying nearly a thousand boxes of goods — including joss paper and paper offerings — failed to arrive on time.

Goods that once arrived within one to one-and-a-half weeks can now take up to three weeks, she said.

This has ultimately led to a sales decline of about 30 per cent as some customers reduced purchases due to limited stock.

Some retailers still have sufficient stock

Despite these pressures, some retailers have not passed on the increase to consumers.

Wang Mingkun, owner of Chye Seng Joss Paper, told Shin Min the store stocked up on goods two months ago and its current inventory remains sufficient.

"Despite the significant increase in freight costs, with the cost of a single container rising by at least US$500 to US$600 (approximately S$769), prices for all products remain unchanged at present," he said.

Similarly, an employee at Lee Hiap Heng Joss Papers noted that the shop had stocked up in advance and has enough supplies to meet the Qingming demand.

Concerns over supply for Hungry Ghost Festival

In an interview with Shin Min, Yang Changhua, president of the Singapore Religious Goods Merchants Association, said lamp oil prices have risen by between 10 and 20 per cent since the conflict began, though prices of other products have remained largely stable for now.

However, he warned that businesses are increasingly concerned about supply for the Hungry Ghost Festival, which will be happening in August, if the situation does not improve.

"Manufacturers are already facing difficulties sourcing oil. Even if suppliers are willing to pay higher prices, manufacturers cannot always provide the necessary supplies," he said. "If the Middle East conflict continues, it will affect supply in the coming months."

Top photos from Shin Min Daily News