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The Star : Bread prices set to go up |
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Written by Administrator |
Friday, 11 September 2009 16:06 |
KUALA LUMPUR: The price of bread, the staple breakfast of most Malaysians, is likely to increase with rising wheat flour prices.� Since April, the price of wheat flour has increased by a whopping 80%. � A 25kg sack of non-general purpose (GP) wheat flour, which is used to make bread, is now priced at RM59.30, against RM33.60 in April. � ![]() Last month, it was fixed at RM44.30. Non-GP wheat flour is not a controlled item but the price of white bread, which is made from this type of flour, is controlled.� The other type of wheat flour is general-purpose flour, commonly used for making cakes and cookies. This type of flour is price-controlled. Local bread manufacturers said they were caught in a dilemma, as they cannot raise the price of white bread, a controlled item, which is the main product of bakeries. � Bakery Manufacturers Association president Mashood Wahab said 60% of items produced at bakeries were white bread, with the remaining products being high-fibre, wholemeal and buns which were not price-controlled.� �Never in the history of the industry has prices of wheat flour increased in such a dramatic manner,� he said at his bread factory in Jalan Sungai Besi yesterday.� ![]() Mashood, who is a director of Federal Bakery, a reputed bread manufacturer, said the price of a loaf of white sandwich bread was now being sold at RM1.20 (small) and RM2 (big) by members of the association. � He said for every small loaf of bread produced, manufacturers were losing about 45 sen with the price increase.� He said with the current price of wheat flour, the loaf should be sold at RM1.60 for the manufacturers to at least break even. � The price of wheat flour has spiralled over the past half year with lower production due mainly to the drought in Australia. � According to statistics, Malaysia imports about 1.2 million tonnes of the grain a year. Mashood said the association would meet Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry officials next week to find a solution. � �I hope something will come out of the discussions, otherwise some bakeries may close down, while others might have to reduce their workforce.�� Flour Millers Association of Malaysia chairman Teh Wee Chye said they would meet Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal on Tuesday.�� PRICE-CONTROLLED ITEM � General-purpose wheat flour� Price increased from RM1.20 to RM1.35 in peninsular Malaysia and RM1.45 per kg in Sabah and Sarawak.� PRICE-CONTROLLED ITEM General-purpose wheat flour Price increased from RM1.20 to RM1.35 in peninsular Malaysia and RM1.45 per kg in Sabah and Sarawak. Used in making: roti canai White bread made from non-general purpose wheat flour, a non-controlled item NOT CONTROLLED Non general-purpose wheat flour Price of a 25-kg sack up from RM33.60 to RM44.30 and then to RM59.30. Used in making: Atta flour Price increased from RM1.40 per kg to RM2.40 (commercial price) Used for making: Rava flour (semolina) Price up from RM1.60 per kg to RM2.60 (commercial price) Used for making: Rice flour Price up from RM1.14 per kg to RM1.29 (commercial price) Used for making: |
Last Updated on Friday, 11 September 2009 16:08 |