Traders to Sudanhorizon: Refusal to Clear Containers Has Frozen Capital and Paralyzed Market Activity

Sudanhorizon – Hala Hamza

The crisis over clearing containers belonging to traders and importers at Omdurman Market has entered its fifth month. The more than 400 containers arrived at Port Sudan before the decision banning 46 commodities was issued. The Ministry of Trade has promised to resolve the problem early next week.

Traders told Sudanhorizon that the refusal to clear the containers had frozen their capital and exposed them to the risk of imprisonment for failing to honour contracts signed with foreign companies to manufacture goods for the Sudanese market.

Trader Mohamed Ahmed Hamida told Sudanhorizon that delays in customs clearance were costing traders €85 per container per day, payable to foreign companies. He said the decision to ban imports had “brought the country’s business to a standstill” and contributed to continuous increases in the exchange rate. He called for an urgent resolution, noting that releasing the goods stranded at the port would help ease the cost-of-living burden on citizens.

Several traders and importers told Sudanhorizon that they had been adversely affected by the import ban and delays in clearing their containers. They said they now faced the threat of imprisonment after most of their capital had been tied up in shipments currently stranded in Port Sudan and in advance payments for manufacturing goods imported under contracts signed before the ban was issued. They also cited disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which had delayed shipments and increased freight costs.

The traders put forward a series of demands, including the full lifting of restrictions on containers stranded at ports before the ban on the 46 commodities was issued. They also called for a resolution to problems involving contracts signed with foreign companies before the issuance of Import Ban Decision No. 74 of 2026.

The traders stressed the need to exempt commodities on which Omdurman Market traders depend to supply markets across Sudan. These commodities are included in Decision No. 74 of 2026, but account for no more than six or seven items listed under certain provisions of the decision.

Omdurman Locality Executive Director Saif al-Din al-Tahir pledged to resolve the crisis during a recent meeting with the Omdurman Market Traders and Importers Division, attended by the administrative officer. He said the move was intended to restore commercial activity and release traders’ frozen funds resulting from the delays in clearing their containers.

The executive director also promised to facilitate procedures relating to contracts signed with foreign companies to manufacture goods for the Sudanese market. He directed officials to compile a list of affected traders and importers, along with the number of uncleared containers, for submission to the Governor of Khartoum State.

The disruption in clearing containers belonging to Omdurman traders has negatively affected commercial activity in general. The transport market has also suffered because of the lack of goods available for shipment to Sudan’s states.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=19268