Port Sudan is Sudan’s principal seaport and the gateway for almost all of the country’s agricultural exports. For buyers of sesame, gum arabic, groundnuts, hibiscus, sorghum and livestock, understanding how the port works helps you plan lead times, shipping terms and documents.
Where Port Sudan is, and why it matters
The port sits on the western shore of the Red Sea, directly across from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. From there, ships reach Europe through the Suez Canal to the north, the Gulf and Asia through the Gulf of Aden to the south, and East African ports along the coast. That position gives Sudanese exports short routes to the Middle East and good access to every major market.
The terminals
- South Port: the container terminal, used for most bagged agricultural exports shipped in 20 ft and 40 ft containers
- North Port: general and bulk cargo
- Suakin: a smaller port about 60 km to the south that also handles live animal shipments to Gulf markets
What leaves through Port Sudan
Sudan’s main agricultural exports all move through the port:
- Sesame seeds, one of Sudan’s most valuable exports
- Gum arabic, Hashab and Talha
- Groundnuts (peanuts)
- Hibiscus (karkade)
- Sorghum, chickpeas and watermelon seeds
- Cotton and livestock
How an export shipment moves
- Inland consolidation: produce is bought from growing regions and trucked to warehouses
- Cleaning and grading: lots are cleaned, sorted and bagged to the buyer’s specification
- Inspection and certificates: phytosanitary inspection, fumigation and Certificate of Origin
- Container stuffing: typically around 19 MT in a 20 ft container or 27 MT in a 40 ft container for bagged sesame
- Customs and loading: export clearance at Port Sudan and loading onto the vessel
- Bill of Lading: issued once the cargo is on board and sent with the shipping documents
Shipping terms
Most Sudanese exporters quote FOB Port Sudan, which means the buyer books the ocean freight. CIF to your destination port is often available on request. Ask your supplier for current vessel schedules to your port, since transit times depend on the shipping line and transhipment hub.
Port Sudan today
Since the conflict that began in 2023, Port Sudan has become even more central to the country’s trade and administration, and it has remained the main route for formal exports. Buyers should still confirm current schedules and any route changes with their exporter before each shipment.
Working with an exporter in Port Sudan
Blue Sand is based in Port Sudan, close to the terminals and the inspection authorities. Read how to import agricultural products from Sudan or our buyer’s guide to sourcing agricultural products from Africa.
Blue Sand exports gum arabic, sesame seeds, groundnuts and other Sudanese commodities from Port Sudan with full export documentation. Send your product, quantity and destination port for a quote, or ask for a sample first.