Uganda exports to South Sudan hit record high

Commercial banks borrowed Shs330b from the Central Bank to meet financing needs during the quarter ended January, according to Bank of Uganda (monitor.co.ug)

Uganda’s exports to South Sudan have rebounded hitting a record monthly average of $50.6m in February. 

According to data from Bank of Uganda, during February, Uganda exports to South Sudan earned $50.6m (Shs182b), which was an increase of more than 21 percent from $39.7m (Shs142b) in January.

The exports were more than what Uganda exported to Kenya during the period, which stood at $46.2m (Shs166.3b).

Dr Adam Mugume, the Bank of Uganda director for research, told Daily Monitor that South Sudan’s export performance was not out of range, noting that South Sudan was benefiting from an increase in international oil prices thus augmenting demand for imports.

Uganda, he said, exports mostly food-related items, re-exports such as petroleum products, and building materials, among others to South Sudan.

Dr Fred Muhumuza, an economist and a lecturer of economist at Makerere University, said the increase could be a “seasonal happening, supported by reopening of most economies with the region, which could have pushed up retrospective demand.

South Sudan remains one of Uganda’s leading exports destination despite challenges of repeated conflicts.

Uganda’s leading exports to South Sudan include cereals, maize and wheat flour, sugar, vegetable oils, beer, soft drinks, iron, steel, cement and motor vehicle re-exports.

Cumulatively, according to the Bank of Uganda report, Uganda’s exports to South Sudan increased to $503.3m (Shs1.8 trillion), for the year ended February 2022, from $353.9m (Shs1.2 trillion) for the period ended February 2021, which represented a percentage growth of 33 percent.

 Sugar exports stood at $32m while cereal flours and cement stood at $28.1m and ($27.6m), respectively.

During the last eight years, Uganda’s exports to South Sudan have increased at an annualized rate of 46 percent from $17.3m in 2012 to $357m in 2020.

 South Sudan remains vulnerable to several shocks, worsened by high levels of poverty and food insecurity, which stands at about 80 per cent.

The country has also been hit by severe flooding in the last few months, killing livestock, destroying food stocks and damaging crops ahead of the main harvest season.

South Sudan also exports some goods to Uganda, among gold, scrap iron and pesticides.