A worsening bread crisis in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, is adding to the hardships faced by millions of residents. Flour shortages, rising production costs and fuel scarcity have forced dozens of bakeries to shut down, leaving families struggling to afford one of their most essential daily food items.
The crisis has intensified in recent weeks, with bakery owners reporting difficulties securing flour supplies and maintaining production amid frequent power outages and diesel shortages. These disruptions have also driven up bread prices, further eroding the purchasing power of households already struggling with years of conflict and economic instability.
Dozens of Bakeries Forced to Close
According to Issam Okasha, deputy head of Sudan’s Bakeries Union, dozens of bakeries across Khartoum have closed due to the combined effects of flour shortages, fuel scarcity and unreliable electricity supplies.
Okasha said the situation had deteriorated significantly, explaining that bakeries were finding it increasingly difficult to obtain sufficient quantities of flour from local mills.
He noted that flour deliveries had become irregular, with supplies sometimes interrupted for several days and, in certain cases, delayed for up to a week. The disruptions have affected production capacity and made it difficult for bakery owners to maintain regular operations.
Khartoum’s bakeries require an estimated 45,000 sacks of flour per day, each weighing 50 kilograms, to meet demand across the capital. However, available supplies remain insufficient and inconsistent.
The shortage has been compounded by declining production at flour mills, which are themselves struggling to secure regular wheat allocations.
Bread Becomes Increasingly Unaffordable
The impact of the crisis is being felt most directly by ordinary Sudanese families.
Since October 9, several bakeries in Khartoum State have raised bread prices, with a single loaf selling for around 500 Sudanese pounds. The increase means households must spend more to buy the same quantities of bread they previously purchased at lower prices.
For low-income families, whose purchasing power has already been weakened by inflation, rising transportation costs and dwindling employment opportunities, the price hike represents another burden on already limited household budgets.
Mohamed Diab, 60, says a single meal now costs him 10,000 pounds for just one loaf of bread—an amount that is still not enough to meet his needs. He attributes this to a sharp and unjustified increase in bread prices, noting that the cost of a loaf has risen from 333 pounds to 500 pounds, a 50% increase.
Meanwhile, Abdel-Muttalib al-Tum complains about both the rising price of bread and the shrinking size of loaves. In his view, a single loaf is no longer enough to satisfy even his young child, let alone the other seven members of his family.
The situation has forced families to reconsider their daily food consumption. Some are buying less bread, while others are seeking cheaper alternatives to meet their basic nutritional needs.
Bread, traditionally one of the most accessible food items for Sudanese households, is increasingly becoming a financial burden.
Energy Shortages Deepen the Bakery Sector’s Decline
Beyond the shortage of flour, the bakery sector faces another major obstacle: the lack of reliable energy supplies.
Many bakeries rely on diesel-powered generators to keep operating during power outages. However, diesel shortages and rising fuel costs have made it increasingly difficult for owners to keep their equipment running.
Frequent power cuts have disrupted production schedules, while limited fuel availability has forced some establishments to reduce their working hours or suspend operations altogether.
The current crisis also reflects the broader deterioration of the bakery industry since the outbreak of the war.
Before the conflict, Khartoum State had approximately 2,860 bakeries, according to previously available figures. However, the ongoing war and rising inflation have forced many of them to close.
The absence of comprehensive, up-to-date statistics makes it difficult to assess the full extent of the damage to the sector or determine how many bakeries remain capable of meeting the population’s needs.
Bakery owners and industry representatives have called for urgent measures to address shortages of flour and fuel, improve electricity supplies and reduce the cost of essential production materials.
Rising Costs Drive Bread Prices Higher
Flour shortages have been accompanied by successive increases in the prices of essential baking materials.
According to bakery owner Mohamed Mahady, the price of a 25-kilogram sack of flour reached approximately 190,500 Sudanese pounds in late October, following another price increase by flour companies.
The rising cost of flour has placed additional pressure on bakery owners, many of whom say they can no longer absorb the mounting expenses without raising the prices of their products.
Other essential materials used in bread production have also become more expensive, including yeast, cooking oil, dough improvers and packaging materials.
For bakery operators, the challenge is no longer limited to securing flour. Keeping their businesses running has become increasingly expensive, with almost every stage of production affected by rising costs.
For millions of Sudanese, the consequences of the war are no longer limited to displacement, insecurity and the destruction of infrastructure. They are increasingly reflected in the cost and availability of everyday necessities.
In Khartoum, where bread remains a fundamental part of daily life, securing an affordable loaf has become yet another struggle for families trying to cope with the mounting economic pressures of a prolonged conflict.