Sudan has one of the largest livestock herds in Africa, making it a strong candidate to become a major regional hub for exporting red meat to the Middle East and North Africa markets.

According to estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Sudan is among the African countries with the highest livestock ownership, with tens of millions of cows, sheep and camels, representing a huge productive base that can be employed more economically and efficiently.

Livestock wealth qualifies Sudan to lead the market

Sudanese cattle are distinguished by being raised in open natural environments and relying on natural pastures, which gives the meat a high quality that is required in Arab markets, especially in the Gulf countries.

Markets such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have remained among the most prominent importers of Sudanese meat and live cattle over the past years.

Data from the Sudanese Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries indicates that regional demand for Sudanese meat is constantly increasing, especially given the logistical challenges faced by importing countries from distant markets such as Latin America and Australia.

Regional changes create a rare opportunity

In this context, Sudanese Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Ahmed Al-Tijani Al-Mansouri confirmed that the regional war in the Middle East has significantly raised meat prices, due to the high costs of shipping and insurance and the difficulty of importing from Latin American countries. He called for taking advantage of these exceptional circumstances by facilitating procedures for Sudanese exporters and filling the gap in the region’s markets.

These changes open up an important window of opportunity for Sudan to strengthen its position as a geographically close, less expensive, and faster supplier to target markets.

The biggest challenge is wasted leather.

Despite these promising opportunities, the minister pointed to a major crisis in the leather sector, which suffers from waste, neglect and misuse, as a result of weak coordination between the concerned parties and poor slaughtering and collection methods, leading to the loss of millions of dollars annually.

He explained that the waste of hides not only represents an economic loss, but also causes serious environmental problems due to the unutilized waste.

From waste to strategic exports

Within the ministry's strategic plan, the leather sector occupies a significant place, through:

-Stop exporting raw hides
- Expanding the local manufacturing of leather products
-Establishing specialized markets for leather products
-Establishing partnerships with global consulting firms

Marketing Sudanese leather products abroad

These steps aim to transform leather from an environmental burden into an economic resource that generates hard currency, creates job opportunities, and increases the added value of Sudanese exports.

Requirements for boosting Sudanese meat exports

Agricultural economists believe that achieving a real breakthrough in Sudanese meat exports requires:
-Developing slaughterhouses according to international standards
-Improving cold chains and transportation
-Strengthening veterinary control and quality certifications
-Facilitating customs procedures for exporters
-Opening new markets through bilateral agreements

Sudan: Between Potential and Challenges

Sudan has all the ingredients to be a major player in the regional meat market, but the real challenge lies in management, operation and efficiency. The huge livestock wealth alone is not enough, unless it is managed according to an integrated export vision that links meat, leather and processing industries.

With increasing regional demand and rising global prices, the current moment appears to be a historic opportunity for Sudan to reposition itself as a strategic source of meat and meat products, if these factors are invested in quickly and efficiently.