People urged not to hoard consumer products as there is ample supply

[snoop1130]

People urged not to hoard consumer products as there is ample supply

By The Nation

 

Pimchanok Vonkorpon, TPSO director-general

 

The Commerce Ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) dispatched its officers to survey the consumer product situation nationwide after people flocked to hoard goods amid the Covid-19 situation.

 

TPSO director-general Pimchanok Vonkorpon said today (March 17) that the officers would also seek details from product manufacturers on the production status of consumer goods. 

 

“People, panicking about this Covid-19 crisis, are concerned that cities would be locked down soon, causing the public to reduce outside contact and hoard foods and products that are necessary,” she said.

 

“We confirm that people do not need to worry because the production of common goods in the country is still sufficient.”

 

She said that although some products may have disappeared from shelves due to a sudden increase in demand and after employees were unable to arrange for new products in time, stocks were still sufficient while prices remain at the normal level. 

 

The products that people need more than usual can be divided into three categories:

 

1. Fresh foods and seasonings: People have changed their habit of buying for each meal to buying a lot to reduce outside contact, making it difficult for stores to arrange new products in time.

 

2. Instant foods: The public normally buy these products in an emergency situation. 

 

3. Necessary products: The same as instant foods, people hoard these products to make sure they will overcome the present situation. However, most of these items are produced in the country, so when production and management systems are adjusted according to demand, they will be sufficient.

 

The TPSO believes the shortage of hand sanitising gels will improve to meet demand because the country can produce these products while the government has relaxed regulations on using excess alcohol from the energy sector for production of the gels.

 

“After obtaining details directly from instant food and product manufacturers, the TPSO found that the production of these goods was still normal while there were ample raw materials for domestic consumption,” Pimchanok said.

 

The utilisation of these products is still lower than the production capacity, by around 50-68 per cent, and many manufacturers are increasing production to 100 per cent to meet the demand, she added.

 

She said the office is evaluating product prices and will inform the public.

 

“People do not need to worry about food and consumer product shortage during this period because it will only be short term, while manufacturers of cleaning items and sanitising gels are accelerating production to meet demand soon,” she said.

 

Pimchanok added that the Commerce Ministry will monitor the product situation closely and issue additional measures to relieve public burden.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30384261

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-17

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[exparte]

I wonder who is hoarding the face masks, Alcohol, and Hand Sanitizers?

[djayz]

Blah, blah, blah...

[bangkokfrog]

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“We confirm that people do not need to worry because the production of common goods in the country is still sufficient.”

When this government says don't worry, it is time to worry. If production is sufficient, why are there still shortages of what we are told are essential supplies. Could it be that some of the "sufficient production" is being siphoned off for sale elsewhere?

 

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

People urged not to hoard consumer products as there is ample supply.

Thank goodness people all over the world are following such government "urgings". It was sobering when I saw a few days ago that one of the hottest panic buying items in the U.S.A. was ammunition.

[Venom]

The media and the government seem to be working hand in hand to create panic by telling people not to panic! I have seen no panic so far with exception to the hording of masks and alcohol for resale by in "some cases" local officials trying to make a profit. ????

[Sydebolle]

It is mind-boggling, what kind of offices, departments and committees they have here; explains possibly the overlapping incompetence. Today's contribution seems to be:
"Commerce Ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO)".

In Europe you can see on potential panic products signs as (for i.e. toilet paper):
1 pack of 6 rolls  -   60 Baht
every extra pack - 400 Baht
Simple as that, no hoarding takes place anymore. 

In closing, can anyone tell me the reason, why people would hoard toilet paper; can you eat that too? 

[geoff65]

15 hours ago, exparte said:

I wonder who is hoarding the face masks, Alcohol, and Hand Sanitizers?

What makes you think anyone is hoarding? 

[geoff65]

5 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

In closing, can anyone tell me the reason, why people would hoard toilet paper; can you eat that too?

To much social media <deleted>, there like sheep one does it, they all do it.

[Dap]

Well, if there is "ample supply", why shouldn't I stock up 

[GeorgeCross]

i trust these guys about as far as i can throw them

 

for instance it has been about 6 weeks since we were told they had ample supply of gels, alcohol sprays and masks yet where are they? not in the shops thats for sure though some are turning up in containers at the ports (surprise surprise)

 

so don't horde food we have ample supply..?

 

yeah you can fool me once but not fool me twice

 

[maxcorrigan]

I think a lot of people are hording simply to cut down on shopping trips that would make them more vulnerable to mixing with folk who might be carrying the virus, now as usual carried to extremes of course!