Ministry of Commerce: Market Operations of Important Commodities in February

Business big data shows that in February, the national market prices for edible agricultural products increased by 0.1% month-on-month, and the prices for production materials increased by 0.7% month-on-month.

1. Slight increase in edible agricultural product market prices

In February, the national market prices for edible agricultural products rose by 0.1% month-on-month. Looking at major varieties, the wholesale price of grains in 36 large and medium-sized cities decreased by 0.4% month-on-month and 0.4% year-on-year. The wholesale price of edible oil remained basically the same as last month, down 1.5% year-on-year. The wholesale price of pork decreased by 0.2% month-on-month and 13.1% year-on-year. Beef wholesale prices increased by 1.7% month-on-month and 10.2% year-on-year. Lamb wholesale prices rose by 2.8% month-on-month and 7.8% year-on-year. Egg wholesale prices increased by 1.3% month-on-month but decreased by 6.8% year-on-year. The wholesale price of whole chickens increased by 0.1% month-on-month and decreased by 4.7% year-on-year. The wholesale prices of 30 vegetables decreased by 3.9% month-on-month but increased by 10.5% year-on-year. The wholesale prices of 6 fruits increased by 2.7% month-on-month and 5.6% year-on-year.

2. Slight increase in production materials market prices

In February, the national market prices for production materials increased by 0.7% month-on-month. Looking at major varieties, the price of refined oil increased by 2.0% month-on-month and decreased by 11.7% year-on-year, with 95-octane gasoline, 92-octane gasoline, and zero diesel increasing by 2.8%, 2.8%, and 1.4% respectively month-on-month. Fertilizer prices increased by 1.1% month-on-month and decreased by 2.1% year-on-year, with urea and compound fertilizers increasing by 1.2% and 0.5% respectively. Non-ferrous metal prices increased by 0.7% month-on-month and 22.5% year-on-year, with zinc and copper increasing by 1.3% and 1.0% respectively, while aluminum prices remained basically the same as last month. Coal prices decreased by 0.1% month-on-month and 5.4% year-on-year, with second-grade smokeless coal decreasing by 1.0% month-on-month, coking coal increasing by 0.4%, and thermal coal prices remaining basically the same as last month. Steel prices decreased by 0.5% month-on-month and 6.8% year-on-year, with channel steel, rebar, and ordinary medium plates decreasing by 0.8%, 0.6%, and 0.5% respectively.