Made-in-Singapore biscuits were "crumbling against the wall of local prejudice", The Straits Times reported this week in 1965.

The production of biscuits here had declined in the previous five years while imports had almost doubled.

Singapore made 8,887 tons of biscuits in 1960, 7,067 tons in 1964 and 2,580 tons during the first five months of 1965. In contrast, biscuit imports increased from 1,835 tons in 1960 to 3,395 tons in 1964.

Foreign biscuits were growing in popularity even though local ones were cheaper. For instance, local cream crackers cost only 38 cents a pound and sweetened varieties cost about 50 cents. Similar biscuits from Britain and Europe cost $2.03 a pound and $2.24 respectively.

Singapore biscuit manufacturers said the dismal shape of the industry was a result of the ongoing Confrontation with Indonesia, as well as new duties imposed by Malaysia.

Major Singapore biscuit makers Thye Hong and Khong Guan were reported in 1961 to have moved some of their manufacturing activities to the Malayan states to avoid tariffs.