Banks Halt Processing of Cargo Documents for Customs Clearance
Sudan Events – Rehab Abdullah
Importers have revealed that banks have stopped processing cargo arrival documents for customs clearance unless they are received through correspondent channels (bank-to-bank) or paid directly from export proceeds. In cases where export proceeds are unavailable, importers must wait.
However, according to Mawiya Aba Yazid, a member of the National Importers’ Chamber, this measure faces a major obstacle — the very limited number of correspondent banks still working with Sudan.
He added, “If the exporter agrees to send documents directly and the importer is willing to pay the bank fees, why insist on advance payment?” Aba Yazid warned that the decision would increase demand for the U.S. dollar, delay import clearance, raise costs for importers, and ultimately burden consumers with higher prices. He noted that these developments would also worsen the foreign exchange shortage, depress exports, and fuel smuggling.
He described the banking restrictions as a serious challenge given Sudan’s ongoing international isolation and the limited access of its banking system to global financial networks.
