Sudan at one time reliant on 800,000 tonnes of grain supplied by the World Food Program now has private sector grain imports of 2.4m tonnes of wheat and 0.8m tonnes of sugar.
The conurbation which has grown up around Khartoum and Omdurman (“the conurbation”) is home to some 10 million people who live somewhat different urbanised lives to the other 30 million some 20 million of whom pursue subsistence agriculture. In the west some 1250 homes can be served by 3.4MW of electricity. If a household of 8 is assumed that is 1.25m households with a potential energy demand of 3.4GW for the conurbation alone. The Meroe Dam finished in 2008-10 has a capacity of 1.25GW and there exists another 1.25GW of capacity. It can be seen domestic and industrial demands are in daily competition for the available energy.
The economic tone is generally positive with GDP growth.
Inflation after an episode of hyperinflation triggered by the adjustment to secession of South Sudan is reverting to single figures largely as a result of oil prices falling below $50 per barrel.
US sanctions continue to throw up challenges but more to US trading partners than to Sudan. Sudans status as a food producer and exporter insulates it from the worst excesses of the US Sanctions Regime and provides goods for countertrade in particular with China in return for construction, manufactured goods and services like technology.
1. IMF 2014 Sudan Country Report
2. Foreign Trade Report Bank of Sudan
3. Selected exports, Selected imports
4. Official and Parallel exchange market
5. Comparison of CPI to CPI in 2008
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