2024-01-16 01:05:04
The conflict that broke out nine months ago in Sudan has reshuffled the cards for the acacia gum trade. But despite the disruptions imposed by the fighting, this key ingredient in soft drinks and even chewing gum still continues to be exported from Sudan.
Like Chad and Mali, Sudan has been in full harvest of gum arabic since November. The production looks good in terms of quality and quantity and should therefore not disappoint. More than the harvest, the uncertainty today concerns the marketing campaign. With one question: at what rate will Sudanese gum be able to be transported into the country for export?
Since the outbreak of the conflict, Sudan has managed to re-establish an appropriate logistics circuit and financing systems so that trade flows are not interrupted. “ Exporters and wholesalers have relocated their activities outside Khartoum and Omdurman », Explains an expert from the N’Kalo agricultural service.
Fragile exports
From January to October 2023, exports of gum from Sudan to the four largest importers – France, India, USA and Germany – do not reach 2022 levels. France, the world’s leading buyer of gum, has notably seen its prices drop. imports by 36% over the first ten months of the year, according to N’Kalo who specifies that overall the levels of Sudanese exports are close to those of 2019, 2020 and 2021.
However, these achievements remain fragile and very dependent on the conflict. Since a few weeks, ” it became complicated again » concedes a French importer. In question, the fighting which shook the State of the White Nile and that of Al Jazirah, where the Rapid Support Forces of General Hemiti took control of the capital Wad Madani, a town located on the road axis between Port Sudan and production areas of the country.
Encouraging prices for pickers
The ongoing conflict unsurprisingly maintains high prices which have stimulated harvesting in neighboring countries and particularly in Chad. If in recent days the pickers have been busy harvesting local sorghum, they have until now been very active in collecting the gum. Thanks to difficulties in the Sudanese market, Chadian exporters managed to gain market share last year in India, as did those from Mali and Senegal who also sold more gum arabic to the United States.
No risk of shortage is therefore looming for the moment, summarizes another French importer who assures that the players in the sector have taken all the necessary measures to diversify their supply.
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