Prices of coarse grains followed mixed trends in recent months in the subregion. Exceptionally high levels continue to be recorded in South Sudan and the Sudan, underpinned by tight supplies and severe macroeconomic difficulties, including currency weakness. In the Sudan, prices are further supported by a sharply reduced cereal production in 2023 and disruption to trading activities as a result of the conflict that started on 15 April 2023.

In the Sudan, prices of domestically-produced sorghum and millet continued to increase in February 2024 despite the recent completion of the 2023 harvest, reaching new record highs. Prices are underpinned by the impact of the ongoing conflict, which resulted in a below-average cereal production in 2023, high input prices inflating production costs and trade disruptions, against a backdrop of already elevated prices due to macroeconomic challenges. Between March 2023, immediately before the conflict broke out in April 2023 and in February 2024, prices of sorghum and millet more than doubled. In South Sudan, prices of maize and sorghum surged in March 2024 in the capital, Juba, following a further abrupt depreciation of the national currency due to reduced oil exports. Prices of maize and sorghum in March were more than 90 and 70 percent, respectively, higher than their already high year-earlier values and at record levels due to tight supplies and macroeconomic difficulties. In Somalia, retail prices of locally-produced maize and sorghum declined in several markets as the recently completed deyr secondary harvest increased market availabilities. Prices in February were below their year‑earlier levels, due to an above-average cereal production in 2023, with food assistance exerting further downward pressure. In Uganda, retail prices of maize continued to decline in February as the second season harvest, gathered in November and December 2023 and estimated at above-average levels, increased market availabilities. Prices in February were 36 percent below the very high year-earlier values and around the February 2022 levels. Retail prices of maize, after having declined in recent months, began to seasonally increase in Rwanda and levelled off in Burundi in March. In both countries, prices were 24 and 11 percent, respectively, lower than a year earlier due to adequate domestic availability. In the United Republic of Tanzania, prices of maize, in February 2024, were stable and lower than their year-earlier levels due to adequate domestic availability and reduced export demand.