Question

Difficulty: HardDirect Costs and Calculation of Prime Cost

The following extract was taken from the manufacturing records of Enugu Textile Mills Ltd for the operational year ended 31 December 2025:

ItemAmount (₦)
Opening stock of raw materials150,000
Closing stock of raw materials90,000
Purchases of raw materials420,000
Carriage inwards on raw materials30,000
Direct factory wages280,000
Production royalties paid45,000
Factory supervisor salary65,000
Factory rent and rates80,000
Depreciation of factory plant40,000

What is the prime cost of production for Enugu Textile Mills Ltd for the year?

  1. A
    ₦805,000
  2. ₦835,000Answer
  3. C
    ₦900,000
  4. D
    ₦1,020,000

Answer

The prime cost of production is ₦835,000.
Prime cost is the total of all direct production costs. First, calculate the cost of raw materials consumed: Opening Stock (₦150,000) + Purchases (₦420,000) + Carriage Inwards (₦30,000) - Closing Stock (₦90,000) = ₦510,000. Next, add all other direct costs, which are Direct Factory Wages (₦280,000) and Production Royalties (₦45,000). ₦510,000 + ₦280,000 + ₦45,000 gives ₦835,000. Indirect costs such as factory supervisor salary, factory rent, and plant depreciation are factory overheads and are excluded from prime cost.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Calculate the Cost of Raw Materials Consumed
Raw Materials Consumed = Opening Stock + Purchases + Carriage Inwards - Closing Stock = ₦150,000 + ��420,000 + ₦30,000 - ₦90,000 = ₦510,000
Carriage inwards is a direct expenses added to purchases, while closing stock must be deducted to find the cost of materials actually used in production.
2
Identify other direct cost components
Direct Factory Wages = ₦280,000; Production Royalties = ��45,000
Royalties tied directly to production units and direct factory labor are direct costs, whereas supervisor salary, factory rent, and plant depreciation are indirect factory overheads.
3
Compute Prime Cost
Prime Cost = Raw Materials Consumed + Direct Wages + Direct Expenses = ₦510,000 + ₦280,000 + ₦45,000 = ₦835,000
Prime cost is defined as the aggregate total of all direct production costs.

Key Concept

Prime cost comprises all direct costs of production: direct raw materials consumed, direct wages/labor, and direct expenses (such as royalties or carriage inwards on raw materials). Factory overheads are excluded.
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