Demand up for ART test kits amid surge in community cases, return to office
Sellers actively working to ensure they have enough stocks; some consumers note price hikes
Add BT as a preferred source
DeeperDive is a beta AI feature. Refer to full articles for the facts.
A COMBINATION of Chinese New Year festivities, more people returning to workplaces and a surge in community cases of the coronavirus have led to a surge in demand for antigen rapid test (ART) kits.
Retailers said their supplies are adequate, but they are also actively working to ensure they have the necessary stocks. Prices also seem to have risen for some products, although retailers said this could be due to different levels of discounting applied.
Health and beauty supplies chain Guardian has noted a doubling in demand for ART kits since mid-January. "This is significantly higher than what we observed in November and December 2021," said a spokesperson for DFI Retail Group, the unit of Dairy Farm International Holdings that operates retail brands Cold Storage, Giant and Guardian.
Decoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter. Delivered to your inbox. Free.
Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.
TRENDING NOW
Shelving S$5 billion office redevelopment plan proved ‘wise’ as geopolitical risks mount: OCBC chairman
China pips the US if Asean is forced to choose, but analysts warn against reading it like a sports result
Beijing’s calculated silence on the Iran war
Middle East-linked energy supply shocks put Asean Power Grid back in focus
