Africa
Sudan
Tier 3: Emerging MarketHalal certification required- 97%
- Muslim population
- 44.7M
- Muslims
- 4.0%
- Yearly growth
Market Overview
- Total Population
- 47M
- Muslim Population
- 44.7M (97%)
- Market Growth (CAGR)
- 4.0%
- GDP (USD)
- $37B
- Per Capita Halal Spend
- $40-70 (suppressed by economic crisis)
- Ease of Business Rank
- #171
Regulatory Framework
- Halal Authority
- Sudan Halal Centre (under Ministry of Animal Resources)
- Certification Required
- Yes, Mandatory
- Key Legislation
- Sudan operates under Islamic law (Sharia) framework; all food must conform to halal standards; Sudan Halal Centre issues export halal certificates for meat and livestock products
- Import Requirements
- All food imports must meet Islamic (halal) standards; official halal certificate required for processed food and meat
- Labeling Requirements
- Arabic labeling required; halal compliance assumed for domestic products under Sharia framework
Industry
Top Halal Sectors
Livestock ExportAgricultureSesame & OilseedsGum Arabic ExportFood & Beverages
Key Organisations
Sudan Halal Centre
Halal export certification
Sudan Animal Resources Export Corporation
Livestock export facilitation
Gum Arabic Company
Gum arabic export — halal-compliant
Bank of Sudan
Islamic banking oversight
Trade Intelligence
- Top Halal Exports
- Gold, livestock (to GCC), sesame, gum arabic, groundnuts to China, UAE, Saudi Arabia, India
- Top Halal Imports
- Wheat, sugar, vegetable oil, manufactured goods from Egypt, China, Saudi Arabia
- Government Incentives
- Agricultural export promotion; livestock export sector supported by Gulf investment; gum arabic sector incentivized
- FDI Rules
- Foreign investment open in agriculture and mining; political instability (2019 transition period, 2023 RSF conflict) creates uncertainty
Key Trade Agreements
COMESAGAFTA (Greater Arab Free Trade Area)OICAfCFTA
Consumer Insights
- Halal Awareness
- Universal — entire country operates under Islamic food law
- E-Commerce Adoption
- Very low
- Cold Chain Maturity
- Very Low
- Per Capita Halal Spend
- $40-70 (suppressed by economic crisis)
- Dining Scene
- All food halal by default; traditional Sudanese cuisine (ful medames, kisra, shai)
- Halal Food Availability
- Universal but market severely disrupted by conflict
- Tourism Infrastructure
- Closed to most tourism; humanitarian crisis
Key Trends
- •Ongoing armed conflict (RSF vs SAF since 2023) severely disrupting economy
- •Livestock export to GCC historically significant
- •Gum arabic is 80% of world supply — key halal-compliant ingredient
Key Ports & Airports
Port Sudan (Red Sea)Khartoum International Airport (damaged 2023)
Companies in Sudan
Sudan at a glance
- ISO Code
- SD
- Region
- Africa
- Market Tier
- Tier 3
- Cert. Required
- Yes
Market Statistics
Halal Certification Rules
- Certification
- Mandatory ✓
- Authority
- Sudan Halal Centre (under Ministry of Animal Resources)
- Import Requirements
- All food imports must meet Islamic (halal) standards; official halal certificate required for processed food and meat
Related industry guides
Working with Sudan suppliers or distributors? Pair this country profile with our Halal Supplier Sourcing Guide for vetting and RFQ playbooks, and the Halal Cosmetics Guide for one of the fastest-growing product categories in the global halal economy.