DUSHANBE, October 5, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Kazakhstan has raised flour export prices, according to the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA).

The source at a MoA says that last week the selling prices in Kazakhstan were US$261 for one ton of the third-grade flour and US$396 for one ton of the first-grade flour and the wholesale prices are rising by US$3.00-US$5.00 every day.

“It is to be noted that the price of one ton of Kazakh wheat will rise by US$80 on arrival in Tajikistan due to shipping costs,” said the source, “When wheat and wheat flour arrive in Tajikistan they will cost US$340 and US$475 per ton respectively.”

In the meantime, consumer prices of wheat flour at Dushanbe’s bazaars have not yet changed.  The price for a 50-kilogram sack of Kazakh superior quality wheat flour at local bazaars fluctuates from 115 to 130 somoni, a 22.5-percetn rise compared to August.  The price for a 50-kilogram sack of domestic has risen 33.3 percent since August to 105-115 somoni.

According to the state unitary enterprise, Ghalla (grain products), 262,000 tons of wheat and 219,200 tons of wheat flour have been delivered to the country over the first eight months of this year.

As of September 20, Tajik farmers produced 516,000 tons of wheat and specialists from the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT) expect local farming units to produce a total of 917,000 tons of cereals this year.  Tajikistan’s annual requirements in cereals are now 1.429 million tons.