Fiks Fare/ "Flour cartel" also sinks consumers, the price of wheat is halved, flour and bread increase!

2023-07-06 22:13:27, Denoncim CNA

Fiks Fare/ "Flour cartel" also sinks consumers, the price of wheat is

The "flour cartel", in addition to farmers, also sinks consumers. Fiks Fare continued the investigation about the "bread for the mouth", this time through documents and conversations with the employees of the collection points themselves.

They unanimously agreed that the price of collecting 1 kilogram of wheat is a maximum of 28 Lek. Fiks Fare asked the General Directorate of Customs how much wheat was imported into Albania in 2023. Customs made available to us all the figures of wheat and grain imports from January 1 to June 24.

At this time, the gathering companies have imported 71.9 million kilograms of wheat with a value of 2.5 billion ALL. In the end, the price for 1 kilogram of wheat is 43 ALL. The biggest wheat importers in Albania are Russia, Serbia and Ukraine. According to the document, the largest wheat importing firms are those fined by the Competition Authority; Agro Blend, Atlas, Miell Tirana and Bloja.

In the decision of the end of December 2022 of the Competition Authority, firms that import and produce flour were put under observation for a period of 1 year. But how are they doing this year? Fiksi went and got interested in some of these wholesalers, asking them how much lek they collect wheat in 2021? Initially, the journalists went to the "Miell Tirana" point, where they met one of the managers of this point, who says that the maximum price is 28 Lek per 1 kilogram. "But we'll take it if you're good at it. If it's not good, we'll return it, because today we returned several trucks," he says.

Then, Fiksi also goes to the company "Agro Blend" in Vora. Initially, the employees ask what it is, while later they claim that the price for 1 kg is "280 lek (old) maximum". The same price is given to the company "Atlas" in Tirana, where the owners claim that their warehouses are full. Meanwhile, the firm "Bloja" in Durrës says that this year there is production and so far, they have preferred to import wheat from abroad.

The fix is ??also addressed to the collection points of "Miell Tirana" and "Prima". Again, the maximum price is 28 Lek, but the employees claim that they are collecting with 26 Lek or even 24. "We'll take it if you're good" was their condition. Last year, the point that collected 50 Lek of wheat was "Mokra" in Fier. This year, this company also collects 28 Lek. "Bring us a sample, we'll send it to the lab and give you a price," they say. So all collection points have set a ceiling price; 28 ALL for 1 kg of wheat!

But if the price of wheat is piling up to half the price of 2022, has the price of flour and bread fallen? Fiksi browsed the INSTAT figures on bread price changes over the years. The largest increase in bread was made in 2022, by 15.8% compared to 2021. Meanwhile, bread has also increased in 2023 by about 4%. But if the price of wheat has halved in 2023, has the price of bread decreased? Fiks Fare made an observation in dozens of bakeries or flour shops to ask if the price has fallen or not. Sellers and owners of these bakeries claim that the price is the same from 2022 to 2023. "The price of flour has never fallen. We have no way to eat bread" they claim. Others say that salaries have increased, but the electricity price subsidy has not changed since last year.

Fiks Fare journalists spoke with one of the most critical voices of grain policies in Albania, MP Erion Braçe. He said that the 5 firms fined by the Competition Authority have stolen farmers first and now consumers. The only ones who profit are the firms that are extorting. Brace clarified that he has requested 5 measures to combat this phenomenon. From the change in the subsidy to collection points, the removal of VAT by 20%, the raising of collection points or even the banning of wheat from Ukraine, Russia and Serbia. "They are only administrative measures. So far they haven't done it," says Brace.

Fiksi also talked with Mr. Irfan Tarelli, Director General of Policies and Programs at the Ministry of Agriculture. To the question of what measures the ministry will take for this situation, Mr. Tarelli said that the price is determined by supply and demand and that the ministry is monitoring the situation. "We have a price reduction. The Ministry has subsidized the planting of wheat with 30 Lek per ha. Also, free oil," says the director. To the question of whether the ministry can subsidize the price to the farmers, so that they at least come out with "0", the director said that this is impossible. However, he asserted, in 2023 an IPARD measure will be opened to support farmers for the construction of collection points.

PRICES SET BY THE "CARTEL" FOR WHEAT COLLECTION

Fiction – I wanted to ask who deals with this grain sale.

Employee - The price of wheat has risen to 27-28 new lek. You have to bring wheat to do the analysis, whether you do it or not.

Fiction - He does not grow with the spirit of God, he wants services.

Employee – Without services, nothing is done.

Fiction – What is this…..?

Employee - We have this state. The state does not recognize the farmers here, it only introduces them. As long as you know it correctly. Listen now. In Albania, everyone works at this price. Yes Inshallah they get that price that they don't get higher.

Fiction - How was your day? I have taken it to Mokre for years.

Fixed – Year at 500 lek (old) kg, now I am hearing this price 270 – 280 lek (old) kg. what is it

Owner - There is no other price. You have to bring the sample, byrazar, so I can talk. Where do you get the wheat, in what country?

Owner – In Tërbuf, you must bring the sample. But if it was wheat for chickens, where should I take it?

Fiction – I have about 100 quintals.

Employee - Where did you get the seed?

Fiction – In Italy. We have the lands in Tërbuf. Do you know how much they get it here?

Employees – 280 ALL (old) maximum.

Fiksi - They used to get it in Lushnje as well, but we said there is no other price here in Tirana. For years, they used to buy it with 500 old lek.

Employees - The year was a crisis.

Fiction - What happens like this, it comes out with a loss. So it's not worth it. For the old 280 lek, the transport is not even worth it.

Fiction – Is this the warehouse that collects wheat?

Fiction - Who can I talk to here?

Employees - We take it abroad. Out.

Fiction – Do you get it from abroad? Do you have any idea of ??the price?

Employee - I know it's very low, I heard it, it's more than 280 lek old people don't get it. As far as I have heard.

Fiction - I have to bring wheat and who can I talk to, who gathers it?

Employee - The owner's son says, bring a sample for them to see.

Fiction - Tell me to give you a price, because I'm asking everywhere and I'll sell it wherever it's convenient for me. And where do they get the wheat from?

Fiction - They take it outside, they don't take it here. But from abroad, how much do they get it or I don't know?

Employee – This other one says I have no place to keep it.

Fiction – 10 tons, no place to keep it? Well, if you give me the number, I'll speak for myself. Who is this?

Fix - I wanted to ask about wheat, we have about 200 quintals.

Employee - Yes, where do you have them?

Employee - What did you put him in, sack or rerun? Have you put it in storage?

Fiction – Yes. I wanted to know how much you get it. We have asked there yes...

Employee - You will go there to Pigeon.

Fixi - For years, at least, we removed it with 500 old lek.

Employees - With 500 old lek, this year it has decreased a lot.

Employee - I don't know, but he went with 28 new lek. We buy it at 28 new lek, some at 27 new lek, some at 29 new lek per kilogram. That we do that work. Go there, if you saw the good wheat, we take the maximum. The maximum is 28 new lek because it depends on the proteins.

Fiksi - I have almost 20 tons of wheat, Italian "Victoria" seed. I want to sell it normally.

Employee – You must bring a sample.

Fiksi - I wanted to ask in advance, I have it in Lushnje, I don't have it here.

Employee - Yes, you have other points in Lushnje

Fiction - I have asked them but they do not have a price. I'm asking too.

Employee - Prices have fallen this year.

Fiction - And the worst thing is that we planted more this year and we have all the stock left.

Employee - Yes. This year it has fallen a lot. We also bought it in a couple of places that had it good and we barely got it for 280 old lek. Here are all new 26-28 lek. Only if it is quality wheat, we can get it for 30 new lek.

THE PRICE OF WHEAT HAS BEEN HALFED, BUT BREAD HAS BEEN REDUCED?!

Observation of bakeries in Tirana

Fiction - As far as bread prices are concerned, the price of flour has increased for years. The price of bread also increased. How is the price of bread this year? Has it increased or decreased?

Fiction – The one that was decided years.

Saleswoman - Yes. He is, but it depends on the flour then.

Fiction - How much flour do you take for example?

Saleswoman - We don't know how much, the owner takes the flour. It depends on the firm. "Prima" has not fallen at all. "Prima" and "Tirana" do not fall. Or here at the bakery, it can cost 100 old lek. Here we have the bread for 1000 thousand old lek massif, Luari has it for 1200 old lek.

Fixi - Year, which has been a big problem with wheat, corn and with flour, the price of bread increased. What about this year?

Saleswoman - This year there is flour, but I don't know when the flour is reduced, so that the bread is also reduced.

Fiction - So the price of bread has not decreased?

Saleswoman – No. It goes on for years (2022), but the flour has not decreased.

Fiction - Where do you get the flour?

Fiction - I wanted to ask you, has the price of bread decreased or increased?

Saleswoman – It's the same.

Fiction - Is it the same as it was?

Fixi - Regarding the price of bread, has it decreased?

Fiction - Is it the same as last year?

Fixi - Which flour do you use?

The seller - "Miell Tirana" as always.

Fiction - How much is mass bread?

Saleswoman – 1000 old lek.

Fiction – I wanted to ask, has the price of bread decreased or increased over the years?

Saleswoman – It's the same. Massive 1200 old lek.

Fixi - What flour do you use?

Saleswoman - From Gjirokastra?

Saleswoman - I don't know what it's called, but we buy it in Greek flour.

Fiction - Has the price of bread decreased this year?

Saleswoman – No. Isn't there to sit? Why reduce the flour, when it does not reduce the electricity at all, I get 1 million electricity, while it rains every day. How can I pay for electricity?

Fiction - How much flour do you get?

Saleswoman - Flour for 800 old wholesale. The flour has not fallen at all.

Fiction - How much bread do you have?

Saleswoman - Mass bread is 1000 thousand old lek. Do you know how much the flour was before? It was at 52 new lek, it was at 62 new lek, at 53 new lek.

Fiction – I wanted to ask if the price (of bread) has changed from year to year, has it decreased or increased?

Owner – No, the price has not changed!

Fixi - What flour do you use?

Fixi - How much flour do you get?

Owner - With 65 new lek per kilogram. We had an increase in wages and a shortage of workers.

The owner - Yes, a drop of bread has grown.

Fiction - One year the price of bread increased because there was a shortage of wheat, flour, war.

The owner - I know how it is with this part of the salaries, because the salary will not be paid.

Fiction - Although the price of flour has fallen. What flour do you use?

Owner - "Miell Tirana".

Owner - 63 - 64 new lek per kilogram./ tch