Publications Archive

2008/09 sorghum production and inflation rates; Nominal and real wholesale prices of cereal; Terms of trade and sheep prices; Market analysis

The food security situations in South Sudan continued to worsen. This come shortly with the trade routes blockade by North Sudan on South since May, 2011 resulting in exorbitant prices of staples food commodities and fuel in the entire markets. The prices are above the 2010 average reducing access to food for majority of poor and vulnerable households who dominantly depend on the markets for a large portion of their food needs. The observed price trend is expected to persist for the whole of July-August when the first season harvest is due and supplies to the markets increase. The northern trade routes are significant in that it accounts for 70% ofcereals supply to South Sudan. This implies that the gap now has to be filled by cereal grains coming from other neighbouring countries (Food Security &Livelihood Coordination June 2011). The Abyei crisis displaced an estimated 202,830 people to the neighbouring States of Warrap, Unity, NBEG, Upper

Cereal prices continued to rise in April 2009 and remained substantially above average levels; grain‐livestock terms of trade continued to favor crop growers and traders; the local wholesale cereal prices are significantly rising much above the export parity prices; market analysis.

Local prices have continued to remain high in Sudan; Sorghum and millet prices in all observed markets in Sudan either increased slightly or remained stable at a high level in August 2009; wheat prices, after following an international price decline, remained stable for the past several months; market analysis.

In May, rainfall systems retreated back to their average position, and moved markedly south in the middle of the month, a movement that was accompanied by pronounced dryness across most of Sudan in particular during mid May. On balance, expectations for the main rainy season in (northern) Sudan should now be of moderately below average rainfall.

The rains are showing significant northwards progress, in contrast with the dryness during May and June. Forecasts for August and August-October rainfall are favourable and on balance expectations are of moderately above average rainfall in these periods.