Sudan recorded a trade deficit of $608.7 million in the first quarter of 2025 as imports of food and fuel outpaced export earnings dominated by gold, according to figures circulated on social media by commentator Ahmed bin Omar.
Imports reached $1.312 billion in January–March while exports totalled $704.1 million, the figures showed.
Gold remained Sudan’s main export, bringing in $449.5 million, or 63.8% of total exports. Live animals were second at $103.7 million (14.7%), followed by sesame at $81.9 million (11.6%).
The United Arab Emirates was the largest buyer of Sudanese goods, taking $424.1 million worth of exports in the quarter, including $395.8 million of gold (93.3% of Sudan’s shipments to the UAE).
On the import side, Sudan brought in about $1.3 billion of goods. Food led with $387.8 million (29.5%), followed by petroleum products at $205.6 million (15.7%) and manufactured goods at $193.6 million (14.7%). By individual items, sugar topped the list at $134.8 million, ahead of wheat and flour combined at $112.6 million and medicines at $103.4 million. Sudan also imported $100.1 million in transport equipment, $56.2 million in cement and $47.4 million in iron and steel products.
China was the top source of imports at $269.6 million (20.5%), followed by Egypt at $238.0 million (18.1%), the UAE at $196.9 million, India at $161.3 million and Saudi Arabia at $116.1 million.
The post said the impact of Khartoum’s recent break in ties with the UAE — historically Sudan’s top buyer of gold and a key fuel supplier — and the reported halt in trade flows would likely show up in fourth-quarter data.
