Decline in Gum Arabic Exports

The head of the Gum Arabic Exporters Division, Ahmed Al-Anan, revealed a decline in the country’s exports of gum arabic in the recent period, according to customs records. He said that the volume of gum arabic exports reached 60,000 tons compared to 150,000 tons in the year before the war, attributing this to problems in the gum production belt.

During his speech at a ceremony supporting producers by export companies (Wednesday), Al-Anan complained about the numerous fees, noting that there are 23 fees imposed on gum arabic, with fees per quintal reaching 82,000 Sudanese pounds and fees per ton amounting to 825,000 pounds, equivalent to 700 dollars. He added that the same ton in Chad costs only one dollar in fees.

Al-Anan called for unifying the fee window and stopping smuggling, along with setting clear policies for export partners and regulations for gum arabic exporters. He emphasized the need for coordination with government authorities to review export companies’ records and impose a fee on exports to fund the division’s operations. He also urged the government to support producers by providing services and seedlings for forests and forming organizations to fill gaps in the work. He pointed out that the division aims to support productive sectors to show that the private sector stands with the government in reforming the productive sectors, which have been destroyed by the war.

Al-Anan affirmed that the division has supported productive associations, research centers, forests, and several other entities with financial contributions to develop the process of producing and cultivating gum arabic.