Omdurman Merchants Complain of Delays in delisting Goods Removed from Import Ban

Khartoum – Hala Hamza

Sudanese importers and exporters in the Omdurman market have complained that goods recently exempted from an import ban—a decision announced last Wednesday—have yet to be fully incorporated into the official commodities platform.
They told Sudanhorizon that the Ministry of Trade and Industry has, as of yesterday, Tuesday, added only two items—rice and Egyptian fava beans—to the platform.
The importers and exporters leveled sharp criticism at the delays in clearing their shipping containers, which have remained stranded at the port for nearly six months—a period spanning both the time before the ban was imposed on 46 specific goods and the time since that ban was lifted.
They told Sudanhorizon that they continue to sustain heavy financial losses due to port storage fees (demurrage/ground rent). They have been forced to pay 85 euros per day for each of the more than 400 containers currently held at the port. Furthermore, they face late-payment penalties from the foreign companies contracted to manufacture the goods, while the freezing of their capital has effectively paralyzed their overall commercial operations.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=19548