Dollar exceeds 9,000 pounds on Sudan’s parallel market — Asharq Al-Awsat
In Sudan, the dollar exchange rate on the parallel market exceeded 9,000 Sudanese pounds in some transactions, nearly doubling from June, when it stood at about 4,400 pounds. Sharp exchange-rate fluctuations forced some traders in Khartoum and other cities to halt sales and close their shops, as they could not determine the cost of replenishing their inventories.
As Asharq Al-Awsat reports, after a brief strengthening of the pound, the dollar again exceeded the 8,000-pound mark amid a shortage of U.S. currency in banks. Official bank exchange rates remained significantly lower than prices on the parallel market.
Rising prices and shop closures
According to local broadcaster Radio Tamazuj, on September 18, the price of a 50-kilogram bag of sugar in the markets of Khartoum and Wad Madani rose from 380,000 to 470,000 pounds, or by about 24%. The cost of a bag of flour increased from 80,000 to 120,000 pounds — by about 50%.
Local reports also indicated the closure of retail outlets in Atbara and Ed Dueim. Grocery store owner Ibrahim Idris said that his capital was no longer sufficient to purchase the previous range of goods. According to him, over a month, the price of a 36-pound container of oil rose from about 170,000 to nearly 350,000 pounds.
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Gold does not offset the currency shortage
According to the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company, more than 70.15 tonnes of gold were produced in the country in 2025. At the same time, about 14.7 tonnes of gold worth nearly $1.54 billion were exported through official channels, according to data the publication attributes to the Central Bank of Sudan. The finance minister separately estimated the volume of gold entering official channels at about 20 tonnes.
Twenty-three mining companies warned that they could gradually suspend production from September 30 and halt it completely from October 1. They say the Central Bank’s purchase price does not cover fuel, transport, labor and other operational costs that have risen due to the pound’s devaluation. These companies said they account for about 17% of the country’s gold production.
Different exchange rates across regions
In Nyala, a cash dollar cost about 4,600 pounds, while a transfer through the Bankak banking app was valued at about 6,500 pounds. Experts and traders primarily link this difference to a cash shortage in Darfur, differences in trade routes and foreign-currency flows.
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, chairman of the Sovereign Council and army commander, linked the economic crisis to the war, calling rising prices and resource shortages “part of this battle.” The National Committee for Economic Management formed a separate committee led by Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim to respond to the currency crisis. The announced measures include increasing production and exports, reducing imports, regulating gold trade and combating smuggling.
