Sudan, Turkey weigh logistics hub to revive war-hit trade

September 23, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Turkey and Sudan are exploring plans to turn Turkish ports into a distribution hub for Sudanese agricultural exports to help reintegrate them into global markets after war-related disruptions, a business council chief said Wednesday.

Sudanese exports to Turkey have tumbled, battered by prolonged fighting, soaring transport costs, steep customs tariffs, and local levies that have eroded the competitiveness of Sudanese goods abroad.

Ahmed Demirci, head of the Turkish-Sudanese Economic Business Council, said the proposal draws on Turkey’s experience handling Russian and Ukrainian agricultural shipments.

Under the initiative, Turkey would serve as a regional hub to market and distribute strategic Sudanese crops to global destinations, particularly across Africa, while maintaining Sudan as the country of origin.

Goods could be shipped in raw form or undergo temporary value addition in Turkish ports until Turkish firms expand operations inside Sudan to enable domestic processing, Demirci added.

Bilateral trade between the two nations fell to about $390 million in 2025, down from a peak of around $680 million in 2022, though far above the $71 million recorded in 2003, according to Demirci.

Turkish direct investments in Sudan are estimated at $300 million, while Turkish contractors have completed more than 90 projects worth nearly $3 billion.

Despite headwinds from the conflict, Demirci said both sides maintain a long-term target of lifting two-way trade to $2 billion.