The Development of the Number of Wheat Flour Factories in Indonesia Since 1971

The Indonesian Flour Producers Association (Aptindo) compiles the number of wheat flour factories in Indonesia.

Since 1971, only one wheat flour factory existed in Indonesia. The number gradually increased to five factories in 1997. Aptindo stated that in 1997, the milling capacity reached 5.73 million tons of wheat per year.

The number of factories grew rapidly after 2008, exceeding 10 factories. By 2014, the number had reached 29 factories.

"Every year, the number of factories increased, reaching 29 factories with an installed milling capacity of 10.3 million tons of wheat per year," wrote Aptindo on its website, as quoted on Thursday (18/4/2024).

Aptindo's latest data shows there are now 31 factories with a milling capacity of approximately 14.4 million tons of wheat per year.

Previously, it was reported that wheat flour production is threatened.

According to *Katadata*, the Indonesian Flour Producers Association (Aptindo) stated that the availability of *premiks fortifikan* (fortified premix), a supplementary material for the national wheat flour industry, is dwindling, potentially leading to a wheat flour shortage.

Aptindo Chairman Franciscus Welirang said that the availability of *premiks fortifikan* from each member of the national wheat flour industry will only last until June 2024. Previously, *premiks fortifikan* was imported from abroad and obtained by wheat flour industry players through domestic distributors.

However, changes in import regulations in the Minister of Trade Regulation (Permendag) Number 36 of 2023 have impacted the procurement of *premiks fortifikan*. This is because the product is included in the list of restricted import goods.

Aptindo has proposed removing *premiks fortifikan* from the import restrictions (lartas). The Director of Imports at the Ministry of Trade, Arif Sulistiyo, said that his office has received a letter from Aptindo regarding the dwindling availability of *premiks fortifikan* for the national wheat flour industry.

"In principle, we agree and will follow up on the proposal. We will include it in the revision of Permendag 36; we are currently drafting a revision of Permendag 36 of 2023," said Arif on Wednesday (17/4/2024), as quoted by *Katadata* from *Antara*.

(See also: This is the Type of Business that Uses the Most Wheat Flour in Indonesia 2023)