Electronics Price Hikes Expected in May 眾多大廠家電產品價格 5月擬調漲1%-3%

Despite the epidemic, the Taipei Electric Appliance Fair attracted a large crowd of bargain hunters on the first day, as home electronics prices will be going up 1-3 percent in May, due to Russia-Ukraine conflict, lockdowns in China, and port delays. 

Due to rising costs, the original price of NT$94,900 could go up to NT$96,000 or NT$97,000. This 650-liter refrigerator, imported from Japan, has a price tag of close to NT$100,000. The store says due to soaring raw material costs and cargo ship congestion, prices will go up 1-3 percent in May.

Chang Yu-hua, Sales Manager, Hitachi: “Copper and aluminum costs have gone up, and there's a chip shortage. Shipping is another factor. Prices will go up 1-3 percent in May or June.”

The Taipei Electric Appliance Fair drew a large crowd of bargain hunters on the first day.

Consumer: “I'm furnishing my new home so I need to buy some appliances before prices go up.”

Consumer: “Even if prices go up 3-5 percent, you're still going to buy things you like.”

The prices of Korean refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners started going up earlier this year. Newer TV models debuting in May will have price tags that are 15-20 percent higher.

Hsu Chi-fa, LG TV Products Manager: “Newer models debuting soon will cost 15-20 percent more due to higher raw material and transport costs and the chip shortage.”

Liao Chuan-ping, Chair, Taiwan Electrical Appliance Association: “Some brands have hiked prices by 1-3 percent. This may continue if there is exchange rate depreciation.”

Electronic appliance sales grew 12 percent in 2021 due to tax exemptions, the school air conditioning policy, and stimulus vouchers. This likely won't be the case this year with harbor congestion, the conflict in Ukraine, lockdown in China, and higher prices.

日本進口雙開650公升大冰箱，展場價已近10萬塊。業者表示，受原物料大漲影響以及塞船等因素，5月售價將調漲1%到3%。

日立家電營業部經理張宇華表示：「銅鋁的一個原物料成本，它的漲幅以及包括晶片缺貨的狀況來講，海運的部份它也是一個因素之一，5、6月份左右，那可能會1到3%左右不等的一個價格調整。」

電器展開幕第一天，已湧入不少民眾，原本還在比價觀望，現在趁著漲價購買，希望多少能省一點錢。

民眾說：「怕說過一陣子可能又漲價，新家在裝潢，所以就是想要買一些設備。」

另外一位民眾認為：「看有沒有自己喜歡的機型，如果喜歡的話還是得買。」

韓國品牌家電業者表示，2、3月，冰箱、洗衣機、冷氣等家電其實已率先調漲一波，電視的部份，5月新品上市，售價將大幅調漲15%到20%。

LG電視產品專案經理許錦發表示：「新機種上市部份的話，預計會因為原物料上漲，運輸費用還有晶片（缺貨）的關係，所以大概會調漲15%到20%。」

台灣電器商業同業公會聯合會理事長廖全平表示：「目前有部份的品牌差不多有調1到3%的調漲，如果有匯率貶值方面的話，可能還會有一波再調漲。」

去年家電業受到貨物稅減免、班班有冷氣政策及五倍券帶動，整體營收成長12%。今年持續受塞港影響再加上俄烏戰爭，以及中國封城衝擊，業者坦言，漲價怕嚇跑客人，今年生意恐怕不好做。