Lebanese people have recently breathed a sigh of relief with the disappearance of queues in front of bakeries. However, in Lebanon, there is no respite from crises and humiliation, and the latest manifestation is the announcement of a 10 to 15 percent reduction in the bakeries' flour quotas, which could lead to production shortages. So what are the details? Are we heading toward a new crisis?
Antoine Saif, the head of the bakeries in Mount Lebanon, explains that a security committee led by the Minister of Economy, commissioned by the Prime Minister's office, and in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, was responsible for distributing flour quotas to bakeries. However, later, the flour quota for small bakeries was reduced by 10 percent, while the quota for large bakeries was cut by about 15 percent, resulting in a decrease in market supply, leading to a rush of citizens to buy bread, as demand exceeds supply, especially since there isn’t enough flour to meet market needs.
He adds in a statement to mtv: "The bakeries' quota was about 27,500 tons of flour monthly according to the Ministry of Economy and distribution schedules for two years, but the quota has been reduced by about 3,000 tons, causing a market shortage."
He continues: "There is panic among the people because bread is not sustainably available in bakeries; some stop production early during the day because their flour quota runs out by noon, for example, and some cease bread production for a day or two during the week because they do not have enough flour, which causes confusion, panic, and fear, and could lead to a crisis." He remarks, "Something unsettling is happening."
Saif confirms, "The bakery owners have reached out to the Minister of Economy and the security committee and requested them to redistribute the 10 percent to small bakeries to ease the market, but until now there has been no response." Regarding the dollarization of bread, Saif says, "Any food item in Lebanon is dollarized, and its price is based on the black market dollar, and bread, like other goods, sees its price rise and fall according to the dollar."
