A sharp rise in rice prices across Asia is putting pressure on food vendors in Singapore, where affordable meals are a cornerstone of everyday life.
At a hawker stall in Toa Payoh, one of the city's traditional neighbourhoods, customers continue to queue for nasi lemak, a popular dish whose price has remained unchanged for decades.
But rising costs are becoming increasingly difficult to absorb. Thai white rice, a key benchmark for Asian rice prices, surged by 20 percent in May, marking its steepest monthly increase since 2008.
Supply disruptions linked to the near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz, along with higher fuel and fertiliser costs, are affecting rice production across the region.
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