The Grain Silos and Flour Mills Organization last year sold more than 54.7 million bags of flour, weighing about 2.5 million tons, the organization announced.

According to a report published Sunday by Makkah Daily, the organization expected a 2 percent rise in production this year.

The report said Makkah province alone accounted for 28.6 percent of flour sales in the Kingdom, or 15.58 million bags weighing 701,000 tons.

Riyadh province followed with 23.8 percent of sales, or 12.93 million bags weighing 580,000 tons.

According to the report, about 7.5 million bags (338,000 tons) were sold in Asir region, 13.7 percent of total sales).

The Eastern Province came fourth with 11.9 percent of sales (6.5 million bags weighing 292,500 tons).

Waleed Al-Kheraiji, director general of the organization, denied there were any shortages in flour over the past five years.

He said: “There was no real shortage in flour. Any such reports were the creation of the distributors.”

Al-Kheraiji said the organization has plans to ensure a regular supply of flour in the market and prevent any shortages, especially as it has more than 2.5 million tons in reserve.

He noted sales of flour soared before Ramadan but dropped during the fasting month.

 
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