Investigation of Rice Distribution Prices at Large Supermarkets in the Seoul Metropolitan Area

Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation Conducts Price Survey on Grain Distribution in Six Major Supermarkets in the Metropolitan Area Ahead of the Peak Summer Vacation Season

Grains Sold in Grain Markets Are on Average 19% Cheaper for Rice and 35% Cheaper for Mixed Grains Compared to Major Supermarkets

Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation (President Moon Young-pyo) conducted a survey on seven grain items including rice and mixed grains in six major supermarkets across the metropolitan area to provide useful information to consumers ahead of the summer vacation season.

The survey was jointly conducted by the Grain Business Office and the Grain Wholesale Market Middlemen Association over two days, the 19th and 20th, targeting six major supermarkets in Seoul and the metropolitan area, including Nonghyup Hanaro Mart, Homeplus, and Danong.

According to the survey results, for a 20kg bag of rice, prices ranged from 61,800 to 68,500 KRW for Gyeonggi rice, 49,000 to 61,350 KRW for Chungcheong rice, and 48,900 to 54,000 KRW for Jeolla rice, showing a price difference of about 10-20% depending on the supermarket.

A notable point in the consumer rice sales revealed by this survey is that highly preferred and popular branded rice (e.g., Imgeumnom Pyo Icheon Rice, Cheorwon Odae Rice, Shindongjin from the Jeolla region) was easily found in almost all stores, whereas in other sales areas, lower-priced branded rice mostly replaced them, indicating a polarization of consumer demand in the rice distribution market.

Among mixed grains, soritae (black soybeans) and baektae (white soybeans), which are consumed heavily in summer, were priced between 9,150 and 13,400 KRW and 9,520 and 13,980 KRW per 1kg package respectively, showing a significant price variation of 20-40% on average depending on the supermarket.

Comparing the prices between grain wholesale markets and major supermarkets based on this consumer survey, rice was sold at an average of 20% lower price and mixed grains at an average of 34% lower price in the grain wholesale markets, indicating a significant price advantage in grain wholesale markets over major supermarkets.

Looking ahead at rice price trends, due to the government's suspension of public grain auctions, reduced grain distribution by Nonghyup, and stock shortages causing price pressure on private RPCs, rice prices are expected to rise until the harvest season. For mixed grains, prices are also expected to increase, especially for soritae and baektae, due to stock depletion and reduced cultivation areas.

Meanwhile, a middleman with over 30 years of experience in the grain market stated in an interview that rice prices will likely maintain an upward trend for the time being due to the shortage of grain distribution volume from production areas. For mixed grains, although there will be some differences by item, a firm price trend is expected to continue, especially for soritae and red beans, which have high demand in summer.