Question

Difficulty: HardPurpose and Key Terminologies in Manufacturing Accounts

Apex Apparel Enterprises incurred the following expenses during the financial year ended 31st December 2025:

Account DetailsAmount (₦)
Opening inventory of raw materials45,000
Purchases of raw materials230,000
Carriage inwards on raw materials12,000
Closing inventory of raw materials38,000
Direct factory labour wages115,000
Royalty paid on apparel designs18,000
Factory supervisor's salary40,000
Factory rent and rates25,000
Depreciation of factory machinery15,000

What is the Prime Cost of production for Apex Apparel Enterprises?

Answer: 382000

Answer

The Prime Cost of production for Apex Apparel Enterprises is ₦382,000.
Prime Cost is the sum of all direct costs incurred in production: Direct Materials Consumed (₦45,000 + ₦230,000 + ₦12,000 - ₦38,000 = ₦249,000), Direct Labour (₦115,000), and Direct Expenses (₦18,000 for royalties). Totaling these yields ₦382,000. Factory overheads such as supervisor salary (₦40,000), factory rent (₦25,000), and machinery depreciation (₦15,000) are indirect manufacturing costs and are excluded from Prime Cost.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Calculate the cost of raw materials consumed during the period.
₦249,000
Cost of Raw Materials Consumed = Opening Inventory (₦45,000) + Purchases (₦230,000) + Carriage Inwards (₦12,000) - Closing Inventory (₦38,000) = ₦249,000.
2
Identify all direct production costs (Direct Labour and Direct Expenses).
Direct Labour = ₦115,000; Direct Expenses (Royalty) = ₦18,000
Direct costs are expenses directly traceable to the production of goods. Royalties on designs are direct expenses, while factory wages for production workers represent direct labour.
3
Sum Raw Materials Consumed, Direct Labour, and Direct Expenses to arrive at Prime Cost.
₦382,000
Prime Cost = Raw Materials Consumed (₦249,000) + Direct Labour (₦115,000) + Direct Expenses (₦18,000) = ₦382,000. Indirect factory costs (supervisor salary, factory rent, and machinery depreciation) are overheads and excluded.

Key Concept

Prime Cost consists of the sum of direct materials consumed, direct labour, and direct expenses (such as royalties). Indirect factory overheads must be excluded.
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