SEAFOOD and vegetable wholesalers are looking out for an oversupply of the items in Klang Valley markets after the initial hoarding by consumers before the conditional movement-control order (CMCO) began on October 14.

They want to avoid a glut of produce that may end up discarded, such as the case during the MCO in March.

Kuala Lumpur Hoi Seong Fish Wholesalers’ Association chairman Sing Kian Hock said the weather this past week has affected fish catch, reducing the supply.

But since demand from the food and beverage industry has also decreased, supply and demand are somewhat balanced, he said.

However, should the amount of catch increase in the next few days, oversupply might result.

“I am looking at Monday, I am not sure what will happen, when the new catch is expected.”

Malaysia Fish Industries General Association president Chia Tian Hee said he is concerned that a glut  might occur as small supermarket operators may not operate due to lower business volume during the CMCO.

He also felt that stricter physical distancing for dine-ins at restaurants and the government’s push for people to order takeaways or deliveries will cause a drop in demand from the F&B industry.

The growing trend by consumers to order frozen seafood supplies online, however, does help to relieve suppliers from the pressure of dealing with too much stock.

For vegetables, wholesalers said they are managing their stock by reducing their purchases from farmers.

Kuala Lumpur Vegetable Wholesalers’ Association president Chong Teck Keong said the way to keep supply consistent and avoid a glut is to ensure that morning markets and wet markets remain operational.

“If the morning markets are told to close, then there will be a significant impact.”

Logistics and transportation this time, under the second CMCO, are smoother as supply lorries are not affected by roadblocks.

This is unlike the teething period of the MCO in March that saw food supply deliveries delayed, resulting in spoiled produce that had to be thrown away.

Federation of Sundry Goods Merchants’ Association of Malaysia president Hong Chee Meng said suppliers and wholesalers are able to handle the movement restrictions this time, which are also not as rigid as before when the country first began dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Merchants have learnt from the previous experience. We have learnt how to deal with it, and there is no case of goods going out of stock.

“Furthermore, the current CMCO is only in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (for the peninsula), so we should be able to handle it.” – October 20, 2020.