Sudan Drops Petrol, Diesel Prices

Sudan announced the second reduction in fuel prices in a month. (Reuters)
Sudan announced the second reduction in fuel prices in a month. (Reuters)
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Sudan Drops Petrol, Diesel Prices

Sudan announced the second reduction in fuel prices in a month. (Reuters)
Sudan announced the second reduction in fuel prices in a month. (Reuters)

Sudanese authorities announced the reduction of fuel prices following their monthly review of local production and developments in global oil production.

Petrol prices fell on Tuesday from SDG700 to SDG522 per liter, while diesel prices decreased slightly from SDG687 to SDG672 per liter.

Up until August, Sudan had the fourth highest price of gasoline per liter in the Arab world.

The transitional government, dismissed in June last year, approved the full liberalization of fuel prices as part of a package of requirements of international financial institutions to relieve Sudan's $60 billion debt.

It is the second devaluation in less than a month and two years after the government adopted an economic reform policy and devalued the Sudanese pound. It is expected to be reflected in other commodities whose prices are rising due to the high cost of transportation.

The state spends $1 billion annually to subsidize fuel prices.

The government believes that the liberalization of fuel prices limits smuggling, reduces inflation, eliminates markups, and paves the way for the state to support citizens in health, education, and infrastructure services.

Domestic production covers about 70 percent of gasoline and cooking gas and 40 percent of gasoline, and imports cover the deficit.

Meanwhile, Sudan's Central Bureau of Statistics announced that annual inflation dropped from 125.41 percent in July to 117.42 percent in August.

Last month, the Ministry of Finance announced an increase in the exchange rate of foreign currencies in the customs system and raised the dollar from SDG445 to SDG564, which hindered exports and imports and reduced government revenues to about half.

The army's measures to seize power in the country last year led to the halt of billions of dollars in international financial aid to Sudan earmarked to mitigate the effects of economic reforms on the citizens. The resumption of aid is contingent upon the return of a civilian-led government.



China's Industrial Profits Narrow Decline but 2024 Likely Worst Year in Decades

An employee works at a carbon fibre production line inside a factory in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China October 27, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer
An employee works at a carbon fibre production line inside a factory in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China October 27, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer
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China's Industrial Profits Narrow Decline but 2024 Likely Worst Year in Decades

An employee works at a carbon fibre production line inside a factory in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China October 27, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer
An employee works at a carbon fibre production line inside a factory in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China October 27, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer

China's industrial profits fell at a slower clip in November, official data showed on Friday, but the annual decline in earnings this year is expected to be the worst in over two decades due to persistently soft domestic consumption.

The world's second-largest economy has been struggling to mount a strong post-pandemic revival, as business and household appetites for spending and investment remain subdued amid a prolonged housing downturn and fresh trade risks from the incoming US administration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Industrial profits fell 7.3% in November from the same month last year, following a 10% drop in October, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data showed, Reuters reported.

The narrower decline in November pointed to improved profits as recent economic stimulus measures start to have an effect, said Zhou Maohua, a macroeconomic researcher at China Everbright Bank.

The profit numbers were also in line with a slower decline in factory-gate prices in November. The producer price index fell 2.5% year-on-year versus the 2.9% drop in October.

The World Bank on Thursday revised up its 2024 economic growth forecast for China slightly to 4.9% from its June forecast of 4.8%.

Still, in the first 11 months of 2024, industrial profits declined 4.7%, deepening a 4.3% slide in the January-October period, reflecting still tepid private demand in the Chinese economy.

China's full-year industrial profits are set to show their biggest drop in percentage terms since 2011. However, when smaller companies are included under a previous compilation methodology, this year's profit decline is expected to the worst since at least 2000.

A spate of economic indicators released this month pointed to mixed results, with industrial output accelerating in November while new home prices fell at the slowest pace in 17 months.

The industrial sector is undergoing an uneven recovery amid insufficient demand, Zhou said, pointing to difficulties facing real estate and some related industries as evidence of this malaise.

China's leaders vowed in a key policy meeting this month to raise the deficit, issue more debt and loosen monetary policy to maintain a stable economic growth rate. The government also recently pledged to step up direct fiscal support to consumers and boosting social security.

Beijing has agreed to issue a record $411 billion special treasury bonds next year, Reuters reported.

Profits at state-owned firms fell 8.4% in the first 11 months, foreign firms posted a 0.8% decline and private-sector companies recorded a 1% fall, according to a breakdown of the NBS data.

Industrial profit numbers cover firms with annual revenues of at least 20 million yuan ($2.7 million) from their main operations.