Halil İbrahim Balcı, Chairman of the Turkish Bakers’ Federation, stated that the recent 30% increase in flour prices will inevitably affect bread prices.

Turkish Bakers’ Federation Chairman Halil İbrahim Balcı noted that flour prices, which were around 630 Turkish liras a month ago, have risen by 30%, reaching approximately 800 liras. “These increases make it inevitable for bread prices to rise,” he said.

In his statement regarding rising costs, Balcı emphasized that bakers are struggling significantly due to the 30% surge in flour prices over the past month, along with other input costs. “These increases make it unavoidable for bread prices to go up. We’ve been working on this issue with the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Finance,” he explained.

Balcı also expressed frustration that only bakers are expected to make sacrifices, saying, “If bakers are making sacrifices by not immediately reflecting every price increase in the cost of bread, then our partners should view this issue in the same way, especially since we’re dealing with a staple food. If the necessary measures are not taken in time, these challenges will only worsen. Looking back, in 2002, when the minimum wage was 185 liras, the price of a 200-gram loaf of bread was 0.25 kuruş. Back then, a minimum wage earner could buy 736 loaves. Today, that number has increased to 1,700 loaves. But when it comes to bakers, everyone expects them to make sacrifices. Our bakers have no room left for further concessions. If the price hikes continue, the current price of 50 liras per kilogram of bread could rise to 60 or even 65 liras,” he warned.