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.



IMF Projects Pessimistic Outlook on MENA Economies

Traffic moves during a sandstorm in Doha on April 15, 2025. (AFP)
Traffic moves during a sandstorm in Doha on April 15, 2025. (AFP)
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IMF Projects Pessimistic Outlook on MENA Economies

Traffic moves during a sandstorm in Doha on April 15, 2025. (AFP)
Traffic moves during a sandstorm in Doha on April 15, 2025. (AFP)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday gave a pessimistic outlook for economic growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for the next two years, the second similar projection in a row in 2025.

The IMF released an update to its World Economic Outlook compiled in just 10 days after US President Donald Trump announced universal tariffs on nearly all trading partners and higher rates - currently suspended - on many countries.

Across the broader MENA region, the IMF anticipated economic growth to average 2.6% in 2025, before climbing to 3.4% in 2026, representing a decrease by around 0.9 percentage points and 0.5 percentage points compared to previous forecasts.

The IMF had downgraded its growth forecast for the region last January from its October projection. According to figures from the fund, the region's economy grew by 1.8% last year.

Within MENA, IMF projected oil exporters including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Algeria and Qatar, to witness a 2.6% growth this year and 3.1% next year.

In return, in oil-importing nations such as Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia, economies are projected to grow to 3.6% in 2025 and to 4.1% in 2026.

The Fund said futures markets indicate that oil prices will average $66.9 per barrel in 2025, a 15.5% decline, before falling to $62.4 in 2026.

The IMF cut the forecast for Saudi Arabia's GDP growth in 2025 to 3% versus a January estimate of a 3.3% increase. IMF also reduced the projection for growth in 2026 by 0.4 percentage point to 3.7%.

In Iraq, the IMF expected a modest rebound in 2026, with growth forecast at 1.4%. This marks a steep downgrade from October 2024, when it had projected 4.1% growth for Iraq in 2025.

In Egypt, it saw growth coming in at a 3.8% y-o-y clip this fiscal year, up 0.2 percentage points from its January forecast.

In Morocco, IMF said the economy could grow by 3.9% in 2025 and maintain steady momentum with 3.7% the following year.