A cargo vessel is preparing to transport 67,000 tonnes of French wheat to Sudan, marking the first shipment of its kind between the two countries in 18 years, according to data from the London Stock Exchange Group.
The vessel is expected to begin loading on Wednesday in Rouen before completing the shipment at the northern French port of Dunkirk next week.
European Commission data shows that France, the European Union’s largest wheat producer, has not exported wheat to Sudan since August 2008.
Traders are watching the shipment closely to determine whether French wheat could begin replacing supplies traditionally sourced from Russia and Ukraine, as repeated attacks on Black Sea ports continue to disrupt regional grain trade.
Russia remained Sudan’s dominant wheat supplier during the first half of 2026. Sudanese central bank figures show Russian wheat imports were valued at $341 million out of total wheat purchases worth $381 million during the six-month period.
Sudan imported around 1.3 million tonnes of wheat in the first half of the year.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects the country’s annual wheat imports to reach about 2.8 million tonnes during the 2026-2027 season, with Sudan’s dependence on foreign grain continuing to rise amid the war that erupted in 2023.
The French shipment could signal a shift in Sudan’s wheat supply routes if Black Sea disruptions persist and European exporters become more competitive in the Sudanese market.
