Sub Saharan Africa

Sudan
Last reviewed: 6 November 2007

Country information

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ECONOMY

Basic Economic Facts

GDP: US$22.75 billion (2005 estimate; equivalent to £11.11 billion)
GNI per capita: US$810 (2006; equivalent to £396)
Inflation: 9% (2005)
Major Industries: oil and petroleum products, cotton, sesame, groundnuts, gum arabic and sugar
Major trading partners: Japan, China, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Germany, UK, France, Turkey, Egypt
Aid & development: Predominantly relief aid to relieve suffering caused by war and drought
Exchange rate: Sudanese Pound = 400/£ in October 2007.

In recent years the economic situation has improved with new flows of revenue from oil exports, and agriculture helped by favourable weather. But a lasting and sustained peace is a pre-condition of continued improvement.

The 1990s saw the strongest economic growth in Sudan since independence in 1956. Sudan began implementing IMF macroeconomic reforms that have successfully stabilised inflation. Oil has emerged as the major source of economic growth and revenue for Sudan since 1999. In summer 2005 oil production stands at around 340,000 barrels per day, and is expected to rise to 500,000 barrels per day by the end of the year. Under the wealth sharing protocol of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, revenue from the oil reserves will be distributed equally between the National Government and northern states, and the Government of South Sudan. Agriculture production remains an important sector and expanded at the rate of 8.5% per annum during the last decade.

UK Trade & Investment Country Profile: Sudan

IMF (Sudan)