Wholesale Market Watch: Price Compressions, Supply Spikes, and the Prepack Grape Shift (Week 2, 2026)
- 3YY
- Jan 12
- 3 min read
Date: January 12, 2026
Region: Singapore Wholesale Market
If there is one theme defining the second week of 2026, it is divergence. While the broader market sentiment remains conservative, with buyers hesitant to restock aggressively, we are seeing two distinct stories play out simultaneously. On one side, supply tightness is driving premiums on specific SKUs like rockmelons and blueberries. On the other, we are seeing aggressive price compression in staples like apples and citrus as suppliers try to move volume.
The "Buyers’ Market": Apples and Citrus
For buyers looking for volume staples, the market is shifting in your favour. We are seeing a distinct trend of selective markdowns aimed at stimulating movement in a sluggish market.
South African Apples Drop: There has been a sharp correction in South African Green Apples. Both 165pc and 180pc counts dropped by USD 4.65 week-on-week, moving from USD 30.23 down to USD 25.54. Even China Fuji apples saw a dip, sliding to USD 31.01 per carton.
Citrus Under Pressure: The citrus category is facing significant downward pressure. China Navel orange prices declined from USD15.50 last week to a range of USD13.00–13.70 due to increasing arrivals and slower turnover.
The Lemon Squeeze: Increased arrivals of Egyptian Eureka lemons are compressing the market, forcing price drops on competing Chinese lemons. With more containers expected next week, the bias here remains soft.
The Supply Spikes: Melons and Blueberries
While staples soften, supply-driven scarcity is forcing prices up in other aisles.
Blueberries Firming Up: Availability of blueberries was limited in Week 2, causing prices to climb. Peru Blueberries (125g x 12) moved up to USD 16.28 for Regular size and USD 18.60 for Jumbo.
Rockmelon "Skyrocket": As flagged previously, Rockmelon supply remains very limited, keeping pricing at elevated levels. Australian Rockmelons are currently trading between SGD 46.50 and SGD 50.00, depending on the count.
Korea Strawberry Stability: Amidst the volatility, Korean strawberries remain a safe harbour. They are moving well operationally, with pricing remaining broadly stable week-on-week. This is currently one of the few categories showing healthy pull-through without needing price concessions.
The Format Shift: Grapes
The grape category is undergoing a structural shift this week regarding packaging formats.
Prepack Entry Level: The market welcomed incoming South African prepack grapes (500g x 10 punnets), a format that had been lacking recently15. Varieties like Ralli (Red), Tawny (Red), and Sable (Black) are now available.
Setting the Floor: With no Chinese 10 x 500g options quoted, South Africa is effectively setting the "entry" prepack price level for the week.
Premium Expansion: At the top end, we are seeing an expansion of premium options, including Australian Sunrise Red (9kg) and Peru Autumn Crisps in multiple pack formats.
The So What?
The market is currently fragmented. We are seeing a "tug-of-war" between supply-chain tightness in niche categories and an oversupply in staples.
For retailers, this is the moment to aggressively promote citrus and apples, taking advantage of lower procurement costs. However, for premium providers, the scarcity in melons and large blueberries suggests you should secure stock early, as availability, not price, is the primary constraint.
The approaching Chinese New Year (CNY) is also a factor; with more CNY mandarin volume expected, pricing in that sector is likely to compress further, reinforcing the "buyers' market" narrative for citrus.
The Verdict
Week 2 is defined by cautious buying meeting mixed supply signals.
Buy Opportunity: SA Green Apples and China Citrus (prices softening).
Watch List: Rockmelons (prices spiking) and Blueberries (supply tightening).
New Arrival: SA Prepack Grapes (filling the 500g gap).
Strategic Question: With citrus prices compressing ahead of peak CNY volume, are you positioned to move high volumes, or are you waiting for the market floor?
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