(Yicai Global) Aug. 27 -- Floods in the eastern Chinese city of Shouguang, a major agricultural area for thecultivation of vegetables, has not driven major price hikes in these products in Beijing because most of the summertime veggies come from other regions while eastern China's veggies will appear in the wet markets by October if the production is not overly damaged by harsh weather conditions.

Beijing's prices for vegetables are going up and down but overall the rates are stable as the impact of Shouguang floods is limited, local news outlet Beijing News reported Liu Tong, manager of the statistics department of Xinfadi agricultural products wholesale market, as saying. Xinfadi is the largest wholesale market in the city.

The deluge that swamped the city in Shandong province last week was the result of the heavy rains that accompanied tropical storm Rumbia, which has claimed 14 residents' lives and killed almost all pigs, foxes and chickens kept by local villagers. Some greengrocers have been even seen buying vegetables in Beijing to sell them in Shandong.

In the capital, the price increase of lettuce was the highest, reaching 66 percent, while the largest drop of 15 percent was seen in the tags for winter melons. Rates paid for eggs and pork were relatively stable, while rising less than one percent.

Adverse weather conditions will not only affect the harvest, picking or transportation of vegetables right now, but can also reduce the production for up to two months, Liu said.

Northern Hebei province was the leader in producing veggies for the Xinfadi market last year, making up over 20 percent of the total, while Shandong's share was 2 percentage points less, Liu said. Summer supply is mainly from regions north of Beijing but by October, Shandong's produce will arrive in the capital.

Editor: Emmi Laine