Asia

Taiwanese Toilet Paper Price Hike Wipes Out Supplies Amid Panic-Buying

Taiwanese supermarkets have been stripped bare of toilet paper this week following the Friday announcement by suppliers that the price of the household staple would be increased by 10 to 30 percent next month.
Sputnik

Last week, toilet paper suppliers said that the price hike would be caused by the higher cost of pulp, the fibrous raw material used to make paper and other paper products.

One of the largest toilet paper suppliers, YFY, Inc., also claimed that transportation and packaging costs have also increased, contributing to the increased cost.

​According to Taiwan's state-owned Central News Agency, consumers would have to pay $11.32 for every 12-pack of toilet paper instead of the previous $8.71 for the same amount.

​Photos posted on social media over the weekend showed supermarket shelves, usually stocked with toilet paper, kitchen paper and boxed tissues, completely empty.

​"Taiwanese consumers are price-conscious," Shir Bashi, an editor at the English-language newspaper Taipei Times, told Newsweek recently. "Taiwan is quite a wealthy place but wages are relatively low. Price rises have quite a disproportionate effect on people's lives."

In a statement this week, Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs told consumers to purchase toilet paper constructed out of recycled materials to save money. It also claimed that it would consult with the government's Fair Trade Commission to determine if there are any reports of atypical price changes or retailers conspiring to surge prices.

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