Wheat Flour Industry in Indonesia
Wheat Flour Industry in Indonesia
Wheat Flour Industry in Indonesia
Wheat flour is widely consumed in Indonesia second after rice. Wheat flour is one of basic staple foods
and its consumption has increased considerably in the last 15 years following the popularity of various
foods made from wheat flours and food diversifications from rice to other type of staple foods. Per
capita wheat flour consumption has increased from 9.9 kg/ capita in 1992 to around 17.1 kg per capita
in 2007.
The CY 2008 Indonesian wheat flour production is forecast to increase by 5 percent to 3.2 million tons
compared to 3.1 million tons in CY 2007 due to continued demand for wheat-based food products.
Shortages in Australian wheat production have boosted U.S. wheat export to Indonesia to a record level
of 831,320 tons in MY 2006/07. The high price of wheat in international markets has forced some
smaller wheat millers to temporarily stop operations and import wheat flour instead of wheat.
Net import (2007): 580.9 thousand ton (US$ 180.3 million). The amount is imported from the following
countries:
Turkey: 29.7%
Australia: 26.3%
Sri Lanka: 19.8%
China 13.3%
Belgium 7.9%
Locally-produced wheat flour in Indonesia is priced higher than imported wheat flour.
1.2 Trade
Approximately 85 percent of total Indonesian wheat flour consumption is met by imported wheat. The
soaring price of wheat in world markets during MY 2007/08 will limit Indonesian wheat imports to 5.3
million tons, the same amount as in the previous MY. Given its geographical advantage, Australia will
continue to be the major supplier of wheat to Indonesia with a 50-percent market share, followed by
Canada (31 percent). However, long lasting drought in Australia during MY 2006/07 has given a favor to
the U.S. wheat exports to Indonesia. U.S. wheat exports to Indonesia significantly increased by 287
percent to 831,000 tons and market share increased to 15.6 percent.
The high price of wheat has reduced margins of larger-scale wheat millers and has forced some smaller
wheat millers to temporarily stop operations. Reportedly, some are importing wheat flour instead of
wheat. Depressed consumer purchasing power also made some larger-scale wheat millers to export
their wheat flour. Nevertheless, the increase of Indonesian wheat flour export is insignificant.
GOI has also taken measures to lower wheat flour prices in the domestic market to ease depressed
consumer purchasing power following the sharp increase in almost all Indonesian basic food prices. In
February 2008, GOI temporarily reduced the import duty on wheat flour to zero, and will temporarily
afford the value added tax (VAT) of wheat and wheat flour. The import duty for wheat flour was 5
percent and the VAT for wheat and wheat flour was 10 percent. However, how long the measure will
stay in place is unclear.
In addition, on January 24, 2008 the Ministry of Industry issued a regulation temporarily lifting the
Indonesian National Standard (SNI) on wheat flour. With this regulation, importers can import
unfortified wheat flour. Formerly, wheat flour produced domestically or imported must have been
fortified with iron, zinc, thiamin, riboflavin, and folic acid to assure the nutritional value contained in
wheat flour. This Minister of Industry regulation is expected to be effective until April 2008.
Despite the aforementioned efforts, Chinas policy to impose a 25 percent tax on exports of wheat and
wheat flour will keep total Indonesian imports of wheat flour from increasing significantly. In MY
2007/08 Indonesian wheat flour imports are estimated to be on par with that in MY 2006/07 of 550,000
tons.
1.3 Consumption
Consistent with economic growth that is estimated to remain above 6 percent in 2008 and population
growth, combined with the continuous demand for wheat-based food products as an alternative to
Indonesian staple food of rice, Indonesian wheat flour consumption is expected to continue growing.
However, the rising price of wheat slow down growth in MY 2007/08 to only 5.1 million tons wheat
equivalent, compared to 5 million tons wheat equivalent in the previous MY. It is expected to continue
growing to 5.3 million tons wheat equivalent in MY 2008/09.
The Indonesian per capita wheat flour consumption in 2007 is estimated to increase to 18 kg per capita
compared to 17 kg per capita in 2006.
The noodle industry contributes to 50 percent of overall Indonesia wheat flour consumption followed by
the bakery industry (25 percent), biscuit (15 percent), fried meals (5 percent), and household use (5
percent).
Approximately 90 percent of wheat flour consumed by the bakery industry is absorbed by lower-middle
scale bakeries. Depressed consumer purchasing power made it difficult for bakers to increase products
prices. Yet, GOI action to lower prices makes it difficult for bakeries to also increase their prices. Instead
of increasing the price, they reduced the size of their bread or donut and sold it at the same price. They
also used lower quality and cheaper wheat flour. However, this strategy cannot be implemented for the
long term, they will be forced to raise their price eventually. Some of the upper end bakeries have
already increased their prices by an average of 5-7 percent.
To gain a stronger position in the Indonesian wheat flour industry, the bakeries united in an association
called Indonesian Bakery Association which was established on December 11, 2007. The association
currently has 400 members scattered all over Indonesia. It plans to hold the First Indonesian Bakery
Exhibition in May 2008. It would also like to initiate an Indonesian National Standard regarding bakery
products.
1.4 Price
To meet increases in the price on world markets, wheat millers are reportedly increasing the price of
wheat flour gradually by an average of 5 percent per month. Within two months in early 2008, wheat
flour prices increased by 15 percent. Currently, wheat flour prices are ranging from Rp. 158,100/25 kg
bags (US$ 693/ton) to Rp. 166,700/25 kg bags (US$ 730/ton) at the mill level. The price of most
common brand of all purposes flour at retail level now stands at Rp. 8,200/kg (US$ 898/ton).
Protein: 11-12 %
Wet Gluten: 27-28 %
Ash: 0.60-0.65 %
Moisture: 13.5-14 %.
Application Economical Premium multipurpose bread products: cakes, cookies, dry noodle
Moisture: 13.00-14.0%
Protein (Nx5.7): 8.0-8.5
Ash: 0.50-0.55%
FARINOGRAM
Water Absorption 53-58%, 62-65%
Development Time: 2-10, 5-10 minutes
Stability: 3-10, 15-25%
Tolerance Index BU 10-30
AMYLOGRAM
Amylogram Peak BU 700-1800, 1200-1800
Temp of gelatinization 59-62 degree C
GLUTEN
Wet Gluten % 21-25, 33-36
Dry Gluten % 7-8, 11-12
Gluten Index % 90-99
Moisture 13-14
Protein (Nx5.7) 9-10%
Ash 0.5-0.60, 0.50-0.55
FARINOGRAM
Water Absorption 58-60 %
Development Time 3-5 Mins
Stability 8-10, 10-15
Tolerance Index 20-40, 15-30
AMYLOGRAM
Amylogram Peak 1000-1800
Temp of gelatinization 59-62
GLUTEN
Wet Gluten 25-30
Dry Gluten 8-10
Gluten Index 90-99
Fe min 60 ppm
Zn min 30 ppm
Thiamine min 2.5 ppm
Riboflavin min 4 ppm
Folic acid min 2 ppm
To continue in the following years, and to be competitive in the AFTA (Asian Free Trade Area), the
fortificants for the flour mills-industries need to be subsidized for about three years by government.
Another reason is the law enforcement for bending the imported-non fortified wheat flour is still not
adequate, that makes the imported non-fortified wheat flour available and cheaper than domestic one
in several areas in Indonesia, and the rest of seven years program, the fortificants must be procured by
industries sector them. The activities of this program include: fortificant subsidy and fortificant
procurement.
The quality assurance (QA) is a must for each industry include mandatory fortification of wheat flour.
The QA will protect consumers and producers from unsafe and low quality product; and to ensure that
the manufacture follow the technical specification.
Indonesian National Wheat consumption has also the same pattern with the Wheat flour import
(National consumption in 2008 is about 3.5 millions MT)