Sudan Raises Prices of Gasoline, Diesel

Motorcyclists queue-up for fuel at a gas station in al-Amarat district of Sudan's capital Khartoum on June 10, 2021.
Motorcyclists queue-up for fuel at a gas station in al-Amarat district of Sudan's capital Khartoum on June 10, 2021.
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Sudan Raises Prices of Gasoline, Diesel

Motorcyclists queue-up for fuel at a gas station in al-Amarat district of Sudan's capital Khartoum on June 10, 2021.
Motorcyclists queue-up for fuel at a gas station in al-Amarat district of Sudan's capital Khartoum on June 10, 2021.

Sudan's energy ministry raised the price for car petrol to 620 Sudanese pounds ($1.07) per liter from 522 pounds per liter, it said in a statement on Thursday.

It raised the price for diesel to 720 pounds per liter from 672 pounds, it said.

The Ministry said the decision came as part of its monthly revision policy based on international prices of petroleum products.

Meanwhile, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Jibril Ibrahim, said on Wednesday that the government is borrowing limited sums of money from the Central Bank, but was still able to control inflation.

The Sudanese economy has been in crisis for years. However, the economic collapse deepened since the military seized control in a coup in October 2021, halting a transition towards democratic elections following Bashir's overthrow in a 2019 uprising.

Meanwhile, western governments have suspended crucial aid in addition to a debt restructuring program that is supervised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Asked about the amount of local currency printed by the Central Bank, Ibrahim said: “Not much. We have a ceiling and fortunately we have not reached that limit.”

Ibrahim told Reuters on the sidelines of the COP27 climate talks in Egypt, that Sudan is borrowing within the limits set by the IMF.

“This is not negatively affecting inflation or the exchange rate,” he said.

International lenders and western donors said economic support to Sudan would resume once a civilian government is established.

Lately, Sudan's military leaders have submitted notes on a draft constitution as a basis for talks under international mediation.



Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh Demand against US Inventories

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
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Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh Demand against US Inventories

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

Oil prices were little changed on Thursday as investors weighed firm winter fuel demand expectations against large US fuel inventories and macroeconomic concerns.

Brent crude futures were down 3 cents at $76.13 a barrel by 1003 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures dipped 10 cents to $73.22.

Both benchmarks fell more than 1% on Wednesday as a stronger dollar and a bigger than expected rise in US fuel stockpiles pressured prices.

"The oil market is still grappling with opposite forces - seasonal demand to support the bulls and macro data that supports a stronger US dollar in the medium term ... that can put a ceiling to prevent the bulls from advancing further," said OANDA senior market analyst Kelvin Wong.

JPMorgan analysts expect oil demand for January to expand by 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) year on year to 101.4 million bpd, primarily driven by increased use of heating fuels in the Northern Hemisphere.

"Global oil demand is expected to remain strong throughout January, fuelled by colder than normal winter conditions that are boosting heating fuel consumption, as well as an earlier onset of travel activities in China for the Lunar New Year holidays," the analysts said.

The market structure in Brent futures is also indicating that traders are becoming more concerned about supply tightening at the same time demand is increasing.

The premium of the front-month Brent contract over the six-month contract reached its widest since August on Wednesday. A widening of this backwardation, when futures for prompt delivery are higher than for later delivery, typically indicates that supply is declining or demand is increasing.

Nevertheless, official Energy Information Administration (EIA) data showed rising gasoline and distillates stockpiles in the United States last week.

The dollar strengthened further on Thursday, underpinned by rising Treasury yields ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump's entrance into the White House on Jan. 20.

Looking ahead, WTI crude oil is expected to oscillate within a range of $67.55 to $77.95 into February as the market awaits more clarity on Trump's administration policies and fresh fiscal stimulus measures out of China, OANDA's Wong said.