Sudan Fuel Scarcity Doubles Transport Costs and Cuts Worker Wages
Rising fuel prices and supply gaps have forced fare hikes that consume half of some workers' salaries, while traders report a 50 percent jump in shipping costs.
By Kenji Hassan ·
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has disrupted energy production, creating a fuel shortage that now directly dictates the cost of living for daily wage earners and merchants. The scarcity has forced public transport unions to raise fares, while drivers and traders absorb the higher costs of operating in a market with limited supply.
Fare increases have placed a heavy burden on commuters with fixed incomes. Aziza Ibrahim, a cleaner in Port Sudan, now spends 11,000 Sudanese pounds a day on round-trip travel to work. This expense consumes nearly half of her 400,000-pound monthly salary, forcing her to reduce her work schedule to three days a week to afford the commute and her diabetes treatment.
Drivers face reduced earnings despite working longer hours due to extended fuel lines. Azhari Mohamed, a minibus driver in Port Sudan, works seven round trips a day but spends up to five hours waiting for fuel. After paying for 11 liters of petrol, which costs 105,000 pounds, he takes home only about 50,000 pounds. The Sudan Transport Chambers Union recently raised minibus fares by 30 percent and intercity bus fares by 40 percent to reflect these operational costs.
Merchants report that the fuel crunch is raising the price of goods for consumers. Ahmed al-Haj, a trader in Omdurman, stated that the cost of moving one tonne of products has increased by 30 to 50 percent. Local delivery fees have doubled, rising from 5,000 pounds to between 10,000 and 12,000 pounds, making it difficult to reach customers in other states as transport workers make fewer trips.
The supply shortage stems from war-related damage to oil infrastructure and strict government import rules. The World Bank noted that attacks on the Balila oil field disrupted supplies to the Khartoum refinery, which previously met 60 percent of national demand. Economic analyst Sidi Ohaj said importers now must deposit 200 kilograms of gold and own storage facilities, causing some to leave the market. The United Nations Development Programme estimates that average incomes have fallen to 1990s levels since fighting began in April 2023.
Source: Al Jazeera
