Saudi Arabia-Sudan Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $1.21B total volume •Saudi Arabia deficit: $392.87M

Saudi ArabiaSudan

$409.50M

Exports (2023)

SudanSaudi Arabia

$802.37M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$392.87M

Deficit for Saudi Arabia

Total Trade

$1.21B

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between Saudi Arabia and Sudan. Green line shows exports from Saudi Arabia, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the Saudi Arabia-Sudan commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

Saudi ArabiaSudan Exports

$409.50M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
9.4% top product
1Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter
$38.63M
9.4% of exports
2Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity not over 1000cc
$37.29M
9.1% of exports
3Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale
$34.61M
8.5% of exports
4Ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more
$16.78M
4.1% of exports
5Vegetable oils: palm kernel or babassu oil and their fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified
$15.24M
3.7% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Saudi Arabia's export portfolio to Sudan demonstrates strategic specialization, with sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

SudanSaudi Arabia Imports

$802.37M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
85.7% concentration
1Sheep: live
$687.43M
85.7% of imports
2Oil seeds: sesamum seeds, whether or not broken
$55.29M
6.9% of imports
3Bran, sharps and other residues: of wheat, whether or not in the form of pellets, derived from the sifting, milling or other workings thereof
$19.67M
2.5% of imports
4Meat: of sheep, carcasses and half-carcasses (excluding carcasses and half-carcasses of lamb), fresh or chilled
$11.02M
1.4% of imports
5Mammals: live, camels and other camelids (Camelidae)
$8.02M
1.0% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Saudi Arabia's import pattern from Sudan reveals strategic sourcingin sheep: live, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Saudi Arabia demonstrates competitive strength in exportingsugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter to Sudan, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 5+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $1.21B trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Saudi Arabia-Sudan Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $1.21 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Saudi Arabia maintains a deficit of $392.87 million
  • Export Focus: Saudi Arabia's primary exports include sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter, vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity not over 1000cc, medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Sudan include sheep: live, oil seeds: sesamum seeds, whether or not broken, bran, sharps and other residues: of wheat, whether or not in the form of pellets, derived from the sifting, milling or other workings thereof

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationConcentrated
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents an important regional trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $1.21B represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with Saudi Arabia leveraging its comparative advantages in sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

Saudi Arabia's specialization in sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring mattercomplements Sudan's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in sheep: live.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $1.21B bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $1.21B bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $1.21 billion bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter and sheep: live demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Saudi Arabia's trade deficit of $392.87 million impacts its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Import Dependency

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity not over 1000cc present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on sheep: live, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
Moderate concentration in key sectors requires monitoring
Market Competition
Global competition in sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between Saudi Arabia and Sudan represents a total trade volume of $1.21 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for Saudi Arabia, with imports exceeding exportsby $392.87 million.

Export Strengths

Saudi Arabia's exports to Sudan total $409.50 million, with competitive advantages in sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter, representing $38.63M or9.4% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Sudan amount to $802.37 million, highlighting economic interdependence in sheep: live, with Sheep: live comprising85.7% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates Saudi Arabia's strategic sourcing from Sudan. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between Saudi Arabia and Sudan in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023