Prices of Wheat-based Products Currently Stable, Association Says

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Retailers Association (Aprindo) chairperson Roy N. Mandey announced on Sunday that prices of wheat-based processed food and beverages will remain stable until the upcoming month of May, or when the Muslim community celebrates Eid al-FItr. 

“Members have reported normal supplies and no significant reports from wheat-based food and beverages. This means supplies until ‘lebaran’ will be available,” said Roy in an interview with Bisnis.com on March 6. 

The supplies currently available in modern outlets, he said, are based on prices from production costs that have not been adjusted due to the increase in wheat prices in the international market. He explains that producers will only start production adjusted by the latest wheat prices starting in May.

He says the current national wheat supply amounts to around 2 million tons that is expected to last until April 2022.

Reported earlier, the Indonesian Flour Producers Association (Aptindo) made sure that the wheat supply for domestic industrial and consumer needs will be maintained amidst an ongoing sentiment of war between Russia and Ukraine. 

Aptindo executive director Ratna Sari Loppies on Sunday said businesses are currently communicating with wheat producers outside of Ukraine and Russia to ensure Indonesia’s domestic supply. "I don't think we need to worry about supply constraints from Ukraine, because there are still plenty of supplies from other producers," said Ratna. 

Read: Ukraine-Russia Crisis; Food Industry Seeks Alternatives for Wheat

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