South Korea Faces Severe Heatwave: Spinach Prices Surge by 152%, Fish and Vegetables Also Rise

Seoul, August 9: South Korea is currently grappling with an intense heatwave that is significantly impacting food prices. The extreme weather has led to a decrease in the supply of vegetables, fish, and livestock, causing prices for various agricultural products to soar.

According to data from the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, the retail price of 100 grams of spinach has surged by 152.3% over the past month. During the same period, the price of ten cucumbers increased by 54.8%, and 100 grams of green lettuce rose by 41.7%.

The government has attributed this price spike to the prolonged heat. The Ministry of Agriculture notes that vegetables like spinach, cucumbers, and zucchini thrive in cooler temperatures, and rising summer temperatures combined with reduced supply can lead to rapid price increases.

The heatwave is also affecting the livestock and aquaculture sectors. Recent figures from the Ministry indicate that as of Friday, 901,602 animals have died due to the heat, with approximately 95% being poultry such as chickens and ducks.

Additionally, rising sea temperatures have impacted aquafarming. Reports indicate that 864,497 fish have died due to warm water conditions as of Friday.

This situation has led to increased fish prices. Between July 27 and August 1, the average auction price for flounder was 22,300 won (approximately $15.84) per kilogram, marking a 2.29% increase from the previous week and a 13.2% rise compared to the same period last year.

Industry experts suggest that the effects of rising sea temperatures may not be fully realized until the coming months, as ocean temperatures decrease more slowly than land temperatures. They predict that the impact of warm water will be most pronounced in September, keeping prices for fish like flounder and rockfish elevated.

Amid concerns over rising food inflation due to the heat, the South Korean government is taking measures to control prices. These include increasing imports of broiler chickens and launching promotional campaigns for fish products in discount stores.

Last week, temperatures in South Korea reached as high as 40 degrees Celsius during the day. However, a slight decrease in heat is expected on Sunday, with maximum temperatures projected to be around 34 degrees Celsius.