Bakeries Syndicate Warns of Increasing Bread Pack Prices Starting Feb.

Secretary of Bakeries Syndicate Anis Beshara warned on Friday that the price of the 900-gram bread pack will increase to LL2,000 if the government decided to lift subsidies on wheat starting February.

He voiced hope, in comments published in al-Joumhouria newspaper, that the current price of the standard bread pack would remain at LL1,500, in particular, amid the present dire economy situation.

Beshara pointed out that the bakeries will not be harmed by the cabinet decision as it will only affect the citizens.

He noted that a cabinet deal last month to maintain wheat subsidies until January and the Free-market policy are directly linked to the prices of wheat flour worldwide, which will prompt the owners of the mills to sell it to bakeries according to price change.

Asked about the increase in bread consumption, Beshara said that the rise in Syrian refugee numbers fleeing the crisis in their country into Lebanon and the smuggling of bread into the neighboring country are the main reasons behind the sharp rise in consumption.

He warned that the specified quantity of wheat for bakeries isn't sufficient anymore.

Beshara revealed that a delegation from the syndicate will soon hold a meeting with Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas to tackle the matter.