80% Reduction in Sudanese Cotton Harvest

In Sudan, 80% of this year’s cotton production has failed due to exposure to pests. This will not only affect the yield of cotton lint, but also of cotton by-products, such as cottonseed, cottonseed meal, and cottonseed oil. Sudan is not a major exporter of these products yet, but there were significant opportunities in the country to increase its exports.

Sudan is a rather large cotton producer in Africa and production has risen relatively fast since 2016. In 2018, the country produced 236K tons of cotton. It is estimated that more than 300K families are dependent on the crop. Most of the crop is used for cotton lint. Cottonseed and cottonseed by-products are not a large industry in Sudan, but it is an industry that is seen as offering a lot of potential for the country. Currently, the value of cottonseed meal and cottonseed oil produced in Sudan totals around USD 40 million, but the value of unused seeds amounts to a little over USD 40 million, meaning that there is a large sector to still be explored.

Cotton is very susceptible to pests and this year, Sudanese cotton fell victim to several different pests, such as the Cotton Mealy Bug and Bacterial Bight, reducing the harvest by 80%. Although Sudan is not a large exporter of cotton-related products, it still exports some significant amounts, especially to China, Egypt, and Turkey. There is also some undocumented trade going on with neighboring countries. India, Pakistan, Brazil, and China, the world’s largest cotton and cotton by-products producers, are viable alternatives for importers. 

References

• Dabanga. "Farmers in Sudan report 80% cotton crop failure."
• Trade for Development News. "Unlocking The Hidden Value Of Cotton By-products In African Least Developed Countries."
• Mohamed Ahmed, Hasabo & Ahmed, M & Abdulatif, Abdulrahman & Shook, Fatima & Barbary, Eng & Osman, Eng & Trig, Eng. (2018). Country Status Report Sudan Cotton Crop Developments During The Last 10 Years.