Sudan-Saudi Arabia Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $1.21B total volume •Sudan surplus: $392.87M

SudanSaudi Arabia

$802.37M

Exports (2023)

Saudi ArabiaSudan

$409.50M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$392.87M

Surplus for Sudan

Total Trade

$1.21B

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between Sudan and Saudi Arabia. Green line shows exports from Sudan, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the Sudan-Saudi Arabia commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

SudanSaudi Arabia Exports

$802.37M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
85.7% top product
1Sheep: live
$687.43M
85.7% of exports
2Oil seeds: sesamum seeds, whether or not broken
$55.29M
6.9% of exports
3Bran, sharps and other residues: of wheat, whether or not in the form of pellets, derived from the sifting, milling or other workings thereof
$19.67M
2.5% of exports
4Meat: of sheep, carcasses and half-carcasses (excluding carcasses and half-carcasses of lamb), fresh or chilled
$11.02M
1.4% of exports
5Mammals: live, camels and other camelids (Camelidae)
$8.02M
1.0% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Sudan's export portfolio to Saudi Arabia demonstrates strategic specialization, with sheep: live representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

Saudi ArabiaSudan Imports

$409.50M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
9.4% concentration
1Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter
$38.63M
9.4% of imports
2Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity not over 1000cc
$37.29M
9.1% of imports
3Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale
$34.61M
8.5% of imports
4Ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more
$16.78M
4.1% of imports
5Vegetable oils: palm kernel or babassu oil and their fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified
$15.24M
3.7% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Sudan's import pattern from Saudi Arabia reveals significant dependencyin sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Sudan demonstrates competitive strength in exportingsheep: live to Saudi Arabia, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 5+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $1.21B trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Sudan-Saudi Arabia Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $1.21 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Sudan maintains a surplus of $392.87 million
  • Export Focus: Sudan's primary exports include sheep: live, oil seeds: sesamum seeds, whether or not broken, bran, sharps and other residues: of wheat, whether or not in the form of pellets, derived from the sifting, milling or other workings thereof
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Saudi Arabia include sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter, vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity not over 1000cc, medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationConcentrated
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents an important regional trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $1.21B represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with Sudan leveraging its comparative advantages in sheep: live.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

Sudan's specialization in sheep: livecomplements Saudi Arabia's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $1.21B bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $1.21B bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $1.21 billion bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in sheep: live and sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Sudan's trade surplus of $392.87 million strengthens its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Export Advantage

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in oil seeds: sesamum seeds, whether or not broken present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
Moderate concentration in key sectors requires monitoring
Market Competition
Global competition in sheep: live may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between Sudan and Saudi Arabia represents a total trade volume of $1.21 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates a favorable trade balance for Sudan, with exports exceeding importsby $392.87 million.

Export Strengths

Sudan's exports to Saudi Arabia total $802.37 million, with competitive advantages in sheep: live, representing $687.43M or85.7% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Saudi Arabia amount to $409.50 million, highlighting economic interdependence in sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter, with Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter comprising9.4% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade surplus indicates Sudan's competitive position in this bilateral relationship. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between Sudan and Saudi Arabia in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023