Bakeries Union to “Sudanhorizon”: Rising Bread Prices Are Due to Higher Production Costs, Not Flour Shortages

Sudanhorizon – Nazik Shammam

The Khartoum State Bakers Union has revealed that the bread sector in the state is facing a severe crisis due to the continued rise in production costs and dollar exchange rates, as well as the government authorities’ failure to respond to bakeries’ requests for discussions aimed at reaching comprehensive solutions.
Mohamed Jibran, Deputy Secretary-General of the Bakers Union, confirmed that the current crisis is not related to a shortage of flour, but rather to the rising prices of bread production inputs.
In an exclusive statement to Sudanhorizon, Jibran explained that bread flour is fully available in the markets and that there is competition among companies and mills, with no shortage whatsoever. He noted that the main problem lies in the rising costs of production inputs, namely flour, oil, yeast, salt, diesel, and labor.
He revealed that the price of a 50-kilogram sack of flour has risen from 77,000 to 107,000 Sudanese pounds, while the price of a pack of cooking oil has increased by 40,000 pounds. In addition, some localities are imposing hefty advertising fees of up to 120,000 pounds per square meter, threatening to force many bakeries to suspend operations or push the price of a single piece of bread to 1,000 pounds.
Jibran criticized what he described as conflicting government policies and official moves targeting flour mills without involving bakery owners. He noted that the mills had failed to reach an agreement with the Ministry of Finance on wheat pricing and the provision of foreign currency, leaving the sector entirely exposed to daily exchange-rate fluctuations.
He also expressed the union’s frustration over the failure of the Governor of Khartoum and the Economic Committee, headed by the state’s Minister of Agriculture, to hold a meeting with the union since mid-August. He stressed that the lack of coordination with the legitimate sector association is further exacerbating confusion in the management of the bread sector in the state.

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