Consumers are paying more for some fruit and vegetables from Malaysia, where floods have sent some farms under water.

Major fruit importer and distributor Thong Hai said floods in Pahang, Johor and Terengganu affected its supplies. As a result, the price of a watermelon, for instance, is now $1.50 per kg, up by 60 cents from a few days ago.

Sheng Siong supermarket chain has also seen price hikes. It said its vegetable supply from Malaysia has decreased. It did not have figures for how much of its vegetables come from Malaysia.

The chain said hikes are moderated due to its contracts with farms to keep its supply and prices stable. A spokesman said it gets vegetables and fruit from many countries so "customers can continue to enjoy reasonably priced vegetables from other regions".

FairPrice, Cold Storage and Giant supermarket chains said supply of eggs, fruit and vegetables like chye sim, kai lan and kangkong are not hit. They said prices and supply are stable as they also get produce from countries like Indonesia, Thailand and Australia.

The supermarkets are monitoring the situation.

The supply of chicken and eggs is also unaffected. Poultry Merchants' Association chairman Chew Ghim Bok said farms have not been hit and transport routes to deliver 120,000 chickens every day are "clear and passable".

JERMYN CHOW