The vast majority of staple cereals (rice, sorghum, millet, what, etc.) consumed in South Sudan are imported. Prior to South Sudan independence, Sudan as a whole imported more than 1.6 million tons of grain products per year. Data on South Sudan’s total grain imports are not yet available; however, data from the World Food Program and the Customs agency suggest that South Sudan today imports more than 200,000 tons per year. With increasing population, urbanization and incomes, domestic demand in expected to grow rapidly, exceeding 400,000 tons per year within 10 years.
Due to high transportation costs and import tariffs, prices for rice in the main urban markets of South Sudan are significantly higher than world market prices. With demand outstripping supply, both global and local prices are expected to trend upwards over the next decade.