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 increased from RM1.20 to RM1.35 in peninsular Malaysia and RM1.45 per kg in Sabah and Sarawak.

Used in making:
cakes
kuih

roti canai

Price of a 25-kg sack up from RM33.60 to RM44.30 and then to RM59.30.

Used in making:
white sandwich bread
high-fibre and wholemeal bread and buns
yellow noodles

Price increased from RM1.40 per kg to RM2.40 (commercial price)

Used for making:
chapati
puree

Price up from RM1.60 per kg to RM2.60 (commercial price)

Used for making:
thosai
kesari

Price up from RM1.14 per kg to RM1.29 (commercial price)

Used for making:
puttu mayam
appam
bee hoon