May 21, 2013

Following tainted milk scandals in their domestic market, parents in China have been paying double to buy baby formula from Singapore, and are willing to pay up to US$200 to have the product couriered to their home.

A Chinese citizen, who has been living in Singapore for more than 10 years, said that she has been sending baby formula to a friend in China who gave birth two months ago.

She ships 12 cans of the milk product each month, revealing that it costs US$90 to deliver the product by sea and US$190, by air.

She said that her friend does not mind the extra costs as she believes that the products from here are of higher quality.

Another Chinese citizen living in Singapore told the evening paper that she sends baby formula to her brother in China. She added that several of her native friends are also doing the same for their friends and relatives.

The Chinese daily reported that there is a website set up to help mainland Chinese living in Singapore who are not familiar with the shipping procedures for the product.