Imported wheat fails to cut flour prices

Imported wheat has lowered open-market grain prices in Pakistan, but flour and bakery prices remain largely unchanged for consumers, Dawn reported on Nov 3. After a 51,000-tonne shipment arrived on Oct 28, wheat fell from Rs140 to Rs130 per kg; wholesalers later cited an average of Rs132, while millers quoted Rs136 to Rs137. A further 58,132 tonnes is expected at Karachi.

Mill prices for three flour varieties were reduced by Rs5 per kg from their early-October levels, but retail flour and prices for roti and naan have not fallen. A Karachi 20kg flour bag costs as much as Rs3,540, compared with a countrywide average of Rs3,200, according to the Sensitive Price Index for the week ending Oct 29. A wholesaler said the planned 750,000 tonnes of imports would fall short of demand, while a tandoor operator cited LPG at Rs500-550 per kg as a cost pressure.