National Wheat Flour Consumption Increased in 2023

Wheat flour is an alternative carbohydrate source besides rice. This commodity is the main raw material for processed foods such as noodles, bread, cakes, biscuits, fried foods, and so on.

According to the *Food Consumption Statistics* report from the Ministry of Agriculture, national wheat flour consumption has been increasing in recent years.

Until 2023, the average Indonesian consumed approximately 2.94 kilograms of wheat flour per capita per year.

Consumption increased by 6.75% compared to 2022, marking the highest record in at least the last 8 years.

Indonesia Risks Wheat Flour Supply Shortages

Despite the increasing consumption trend, Indonesia now risks a wheat flour supply shortage because several producers are threatened with running out of stock of "fortified premix" raw materials.

According to the Indonesian Wheat Flour Producers Association (Aptindo), fortified premix is an auxiliary raw material in wheat flour production that serves to provide nutrients.

Aptindo Chairman Farnciscus Welirang revealed that local wheat flour producers usually obtain this raw material through imports.

However, starting this year, the supply could be hampered due to new regulations tightening the import of fortified premix.

"In accordance with Trade Minister Regulation Number 36 of 2023 and Trade Minister Regulation Number 3 of 2024, imports of fortified premix must obtain an Import Approval (PI) and a Surveyor Report (LS). However, the technical regulations are not yet available," said Franciscus, as reported by *Katadata*, Thursday (18/4/2024).

Franciscus explained that fortified premix is a mandatory raw material in the production of wheat flour based on the Indonesian National Standard (SNI).

Without this raw material, wheat flour can lose various nutrients such as iron, zinc, folic acid, and vitamin B.

Franciscus also estimated that national wheat flour production could decrease by more than 50% if there is no solution regarding the procurement of fortified premix.

"Producers only have two choices: stop wheat flour production when the fortified premix runs out, or continue producing wheat flour without fortified premix, which means violating the SNI," he said.