Sudan and Turkey are considering plans to establish a logistics and distribution hub at Turkish ports to help restore Sudanese agricultural exports to international markets following years of disruption caused by the war.
Ahmed Demirci, head of the Turkish-Sudanese Economic Business Council, said the proposed initiative would use Turkey’s established shipping and logistics infrastructure to market Sudanese agricultural products internationally, particularly across African markets.
The proposal comes as Sudanese exports to Turkey have declined sharply amid continued fighting, rising transportation costs, customs tariffs and domestic levies that have undermined the competitiveness of Sudanese goods.
Demirci said the proposed arrangement would draw on Turkey’s experience handling agricultural shipments from Russia and Ukraine, allowing Sudanese products to reach international buyers through Turkish ports while retaining Sudan as their country of origin.
Under the plan, agricultural commodities could be exported in their raw form or undergo limited processing at Turkish facilities before being distributed to overseas markets.
The arrangement could eventually pave the way for Turkish companies to expand their operations inside Sudan, allowing more agricultural products to be processed domestically before export.
Bilateral trade between Sudan and Turkey fell to approximately $390 million in 2025, compared with a peak of $680 million in 2022, according to Demirci. Trade between the two countries stood at just $71 million in 2003.
Turkish direct investment in Sudan is estimated at $300 million, while Turkish contractors have completed more than 90 projects worth nearly $3 billion.
Despite the economic disruption caused by Sudan’s war, Demirci said both countries remain committed to their long-term objective of increasing bilateral trade to $2 billion.
The proposed logistics hub remains under discussion, with no implementation timetable announced.
