Sudan

Sudan benefits from the EU's "Everything but Arms" (EBA) scheme for least developed countries. According to the most recent World Bank classification, Sudan is now again considered a low-income country, after having obtained lower-middle income status in 2018. The per-capita income currently stands at $ 760 (2022). Total imports from Sudan showed a decreasing trend in recent years and amounted to about € 134 million in 2022. Sudan has not taken advantage of the EBA since 2020.

What is the EBA?

The “Everything but Arms”(EBA) scheme is a permanent arrangement covering Least Developed Countries (LDC’s) as classified by the United Nations. This arrangement enables duty-free and quota-free access for all products (7200 products in total) originating in LDC’s except for arms and ammunition. Different from the Standard GSP and GSP+, LDC’s are not excluded from the scheme if they benefit from other preferential arrangements.

Sudan flag

At a glance: EBA beneficiaries' preferential imports to the EU

group

46,87 M

Population

account_balance
Presidential Republic

Government

trending_up

-1.00%

GDP Growth

equalizer

152.40%

Inflation

money

$ 51,66 B

GDP

6 v

Freedomhouse index

5 -

ITUC Global Rights Index

27.6 v

Environmental Performance Index

Facts about Sudan's economy

Gum Arabic

Sudan is the world’s largest producer and exporter of gum Arabic and accounts for about 70% of the world’s supply.

Export Products

Sudan’s main export goods are petroleum oils, gold and agricultural products and livestock like sesame seeds, sheep, natural gum Arabic, cotton, and melon seeds.

Trade Partners

Sudan's main trading partners are UAE, Macao and Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. About 30% of Sudan's exports go to the UAE, while 24% go to Macau. Most of the imports also originate from these two countries.

Economic Structure

The cultivation and processing of agricultural commodities remains the cornerstone of Sudan's economy since former petroleum reserves fell to South Sudan after the secession. The manufacturing sector remains small, both in terms of its contribution to the GDP and as an employer. Industrial activity mainly focusses on sugar refining. the production of vegetable oil and soap.

Hydropower Potential

Sudan is home to Africa’s largest source of hydroelectricity, the Merowe Dam. The dam has a length of 9km and has an annual electricity yield of about 5.5 terawatt hours.

Trade with the EU

Total trade with the EU amounted to € 1,443 million in 2022, which equals only a share of approximately 5.1%. Thus, the EU does not play a major role in Sudan's trade relations.

Sudan and the EU (2022)

Imports from Sudan by product section

Imports from Sudan over time (in € m)

SUDAN AND THE EU’s GSP

Economic Impact

2%

Only a small share of Sudan's exports to the EU market are eligible for EBA preferences.

59.20%

With a preference utilisation rate of 59.2%, Sudan makes good use of EBA preferences.

Preference utilisation and export diversification

Sudan's imports to the EU

Preference Utilisation vs. total eligible imports

While only a small share of EU imports from Sudan is traded under EBA preferences, there is good utilisation of the preferences granted by the EBA despite fluctuations in eligible products. Important products imported from Sudan, like gum Arabic, sesamum seeds, and gold already benefit from zero most-favoured-nation duties. In 2022, only imports of foodstuff and beverages were under EBA preferential rate, no other products benefitted from the scheme.

The largest product sections under EBA

Overall imports from Sudan increased substantially in recent years, by about 50% between 2020 and 2022, mainly driven by minerals and precious metals. However, only foodstuff and beverages were imported under the EBA.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The preferential access to the EU market granted by the EBA scheme is not bound to the ratification of international conventions. Sudan has ratified 5 out of 7 fundamental UN conventions on the protection of human rights and is a signatory to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Furthermore, Sudan has ratified 7 out of 8 ILO conventions for the protection of labour rights, 8 environmental protection conventions as well as 4 conventions on good governance.

Core international conventions on human rights and labour standards

Ratified

  • Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948)
  • International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1969)
  • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976)
  • International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (1976)
  • Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1987)
  • Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990)
  • Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour, No 29 (1930)
  • Convention concerning the Application of the Principles of the Right to Organise and to Bargain Collectively, No 98 (1949)
  • Convention concerning Equal Remuneration of Men and Women Workers for Work of Equal Value, No 100 (1951)
  • Convention concerning the Abolition of Forced Labour, No 105 (1957)
  • Convention concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation, No 111 (1958)
  • Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, No 138 (1973)
  • Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, No 182 (1999)

Not Ratified

  • Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1981)
  • Convention concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, No 87 (1948)

Additional Conventions

  • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1973)
  • Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987)
  • Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (1989)
  • Convention on Biological Diversity (1992)
  • The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992)
  • Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2000)
  • Stockholm Convention on persistent Organic Pollutants (2001)
  • Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1998)
  • United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961)
  • United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971)
  • United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988)
  • United Nations Convention against Corruption (2004)

EU-Sudan Bilateral Development Assistance

DG INTPA

Access all info about EU-Sudan relations on the International Partnerships website: https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/countries/sudan_en

Opportunities in Sudan

  • Sudan can benefit from good conditions for agricultural activities and the possession of mineral resources like petroleum and oil
  • Modernising the agricultural- and gold mining sectors could enhance productivity and efficiency
  • Great potential for developing infrastructure for generating solar- and hydropower

Contact points