Egypt Stands Firm on Unsubsidized Bread Prices Amid Rising Flour Costs
The Egyptian Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining current unsubsidized bread prices, despite calls from bakers for a price hike.
Minister Sherif Farouk met with bakery representatives for the second week in a row to discuss flour availability, production costs, and market needs. The ministry said it would continue inspections of private bakeries to ensure they adhere to prescribed prices and weights, preventing unjustified increases and taking legal action against violators.
The General Division of Bakeries has been seeking a 15 percent increase in unsubsidized bread and fino prices due to rising flour costs, which have increased from EGP 17,000 to EGP 21,000 per ton. However, the ministry said it would make wheat available regularly through the Egyptian Commodity Exchange for flour production sold on the open market, helping maintain supplies and support regular bread production.
The move aims to improve commodity trading mechanisms and price transparency, with monthly meetings between the ministry, bakeries, mills, and grain-industry representatives to review wheat and flour supplies. The minister said the arrangements would help secure production inputs, monitor flour trading, and maintain regular bread supplies.