Southeast Asia’s post-Covid Ramadan bazaars grapple with high rent, rising e-commerce
- Singapore’s two biggest and oldest Ramadan bazaars have been hit with the double whammy and can’t compete with cheaper Chinese products online
- Malaysian’s selling fresh foods and traditional biscuits have had better luck, but many apparel retailers say they are losing money this year
The full-scale comeback of Ramadan bazaars in Southeast Asia following their suspension over the coronavirus pandemic brings fresh hope for stallholders, but also uncovers new challenges of soaring rent and stiff competition with online shops.
The return of the bazaars in countries with sizeable Muslim populations is not just significant for Muslims in the region who are celebrating the Islamic festival of Eid. It also serves as one of the key markers of the full resumption of normality in social life after the pandemic with hopes of a post-Covid economic recovery.
Ramadan is seen as one of the busiest shopping seasons in these countries, with many splurging on new clothes, accessories and food, celebrating the completion of Ramadan. The markets have traditionally preceded the Eid festival.
With most of its Covid-19 pandemic restrictions finally lifted, Singapore’s two biggest and oldest Ramadan bazaars were launched in the middle of last month at about the same time as the start of the Muslim fasting month, but on a much larger scale than before.
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Malaysian charity redistributes excess food from Ramadan bazaars to low-income families
The Geylang Serai bazaar, one of the two largest bazaars organised by a governmental grass roots organisation, has set up 700 stalls this year, compared with 500 in 2019 and just 70 last year. Over 3 million people have visited the bazaar so far, according to the organiser.