TAIPEI: Taiwan’s premier called for calm Tuesday following a desperate run on toilet paper on the island, sparked by speculation of imminent price hikes. Shelves usually stacked with toilet paper, kitchen paper and boxed tissues stood empty in many hypermarkets and supermarkets as residents stockpiled supplies. Major online retailers had also run out, including PChome which reportedly sold five million packs of toilet paper in three days. The panic buying started after major hypermarkets were informed by toilet paper manufacturers of a 10 to 30 percent price hike from mid-March due to rising international pulp prices. “The government wouldn’t have paid attention if people were not snatching up toilet paper.

Source: The Star February 27, 2018 11:15 UTC