The Eswatini government has approved a request by the Eswatini Bakers' Association to increase bread prices by 4.23% from October 1. This decision was made in accordance with the Price Control Order of 1973, which mandates the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade to regulate the prices of essential commodities, including bread. As a result, the maximum retail price of an 800g brown loaf will increase from E15.60 to E16.26, while an 800g white loaf will rise from E17.90 to E18.66.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade Chief Commercial Officer Sonto Hlophe, the price increase is attributed to rising production and distribution costs, which have placed financial pressure on local bakeries and threatened the sustainability of the sector. The increase in fuel prices has been a major contributor to the rising cost of production, as it has also affected the cost of transporting key inputs and distributing bread.
The price increase follows a 7% adjustment effected on November 1, 2025, and a 20.76% increase on July 1, 2022. Hlophe stated that the Bakers' Association submitted a formal request for a price review earlier this year, citing escalating input and operational costs, including the cost of flour, premix, utilities, fuel, and other expenses associated with running bakeries.
Economist Thembinkosi Dube said the 4.23% increase was justified in light of the rising operational costs faced by bakeries. He acknowledged that consumers would feel the impact of paying more for bread but said the financial pressures faced by bakeries also needed to be considered. Dube warned that if bakeries were forced to maintain current prices while input and fuel costs continued to rise, some businesses would be operating at a loss.
Consumer Association Chairman Bongani Bhanyaza Mdluli said consumers understood that bakeries, like other businesses, were affected by increases in input costs, including fuel. However, he said rising operational costs should not automatically translate into higher bread prices for consumers. Mdluli suggested that the government should consider interventions to reduce the cost of key inputs and transportation.
The approved adjustment will be implemented in terms of Section 5(1) of the Price Control Order of 1973 and will be officially cited as the Maximum Wholesale and Retail Prices of Bread Notice. The ministry calculated the average cost of the relevant inputs and analysed their movement over the period under review to assess the request.
The new bread price schedule will be effective from October 1, with the maximum wholesale and retail prices for different types of bread being adjusted accordingly. The current bread price schedule shows the prices for different types of bread, including white and brown bread, in various weights.
Key points
- The Eswatini government has approved a 4.23% increase in bread prices, effective October 1.
- The price increase is attributed to rising production and distribution costs, including the cost of fuel and flour.
- The increase has been justified by the Eswatini Bakers' Association, but consumer groups are calling for government intervention to reduce the cost of key inputs.
