Running out of Salt

From the Shanghai Daily Newspaper:

The salt buying panic, which has swept China over the past two days, seemed to be receding yesterday.
Supplies were increasing and people began to realize rumors that salt can prevent radiation sickness were false.

China's top economic planner and price regulator, the National Development and Reform Commission, said prices were stabilizing with supplies increasing and panic buying starting to fade.

Mao Qingguo, general manager of China National Salt Industry Corp (China Salt), the country's largest salt manufacturer, told the Xinhua news agency that the rush to buy salt had eased in most regions.

Supplies had been ensured, especially in large supermarkets, while consumers had calmed down, he said.

Figures from China Salt showed that 370,000 tons of edible salt were sold on Thursday, the amount normally sold in 24 days.

But while stocks remain low, some supermarkets and convenience stores were limiting packs to two per person.

Clerks at some convenience stores still had to try to persuade customers not to panic buy. "Two packs are enough for one month and we have deliveries of salt at our store every day," an assistant told one customer.

The Shanghai Salt Administration Bureau said that 2,700 tons of salt was distributed on Thursday night alone, 10 times the usual amount, in order to refill empty shelves and prepare for another rush.

At one supermarket yesterday, a man, wearing a mask, finally decided to buy the last pack of sea salt after hesitating for a moment because the packaging was damaged.

"Getting prepared is better than doing nothing at all," he said, asking not to be identified.

Though Mayor Han Zheng said earlier that city authorities would punish those hoarding and pushing up salt prices, at least 12 cases of illegal price rises were reported during inspections over the past two days, according to the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission.

Meanwhile, some Shanghai residents who had bought salt at high prices in the panic were yesterday asking for their money back.

More than 60 people gathered outside one wet market, asking for a refund.

China's salt panic was triggered by false claims that iodized salt could help ward off radiation poisoning. There were also rumors that radiation would contaminate future supplies of sea salt.