The Egyptian Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade has delayed a decision to raise the prices of tourist and fine bread by a week. This decision was made after a meeting between the Minister of Supply, Dr. Sherif Farouk, and representatives of the baking industry. The postponement comes amid global increases in wheat prices and transportation costs from Russia and Ukraine via the Black Sea.
According to Khaled Fikri, head of the Cairo Chamber of Commerce's baking division, the price of a ton of flour has risen from 17,000 pounds to 21,500 pounds, an increase of approximately 25%. This rise in flour prices is a significant factor in the requested price increase for tourist and fine bread. Fikri assured consumers that any potential price increase will be carefully considered and linked to actual production costs.
The current directive from the Ministry of Supply, numbered 5 of 2026, sets the maximum price for a 80-gram loaf of free-market bread at two pounds, and for a 60-gram loaf at 1.5 pounds. For fine bread, the prices are set at two pounds for a 50-gram loaf, 1.5 pounds for a 40-gram loaf, and one pound for a 30-gram loaf. The Ministry has emphasized that these prices must be adhered to and clearly displayed in bakeries.
Dr. Sherif Farouk stressed that his ministry will not tolerate violations related to underweight bread or selling at prices higher than those set. He highlighted that inspection campaigns are ongoing across various governorates to ensure compliance with the regulations. Any violations detected will result in legal action being taken against the offending bakeries.
The Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade has urged owners of tourist and fine bakeries to fully comply with the set weights and prices. They have also encouraged consumers to report any violations regarding bread prices or weights through the unified government complaints system or the Consumer Protection Authority's hotline.
Khaled Fikri reassured consumers that the directive for subsidized bread prices remains in effect. He emphasized that any future price adjustments will be based on actual production costs and made after careful consideration.
Key points include the postponement of the price increase decision, the current prices for tourist and fine bread as set by the Ministry of Supply, and the government's commitment to monitoring and enforcing compliance with these prices.
Key points
- The Egyptian government has postponed a decision to increase prices of tourist and fine bread for a week.
- The current prices for tourist and fine bread are set by the Ministry of Supply and must be adhered to by all bakeries.
- The government has urged consumers to report any violations regarding bread prices or weights through designated hotlines.
