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Promote:South Sudan

Export from South Sudan

A short guide for companies selling from South Sudan: the export figures, the agreements and their limits, the main steps and who can help, each with its source.

1. What South Sudan sells, and who buys it

Top goods exports

2025

  1. 1. Crude oil (HS 2709)US$3.26 billion
  2. 2. Iron and steel scrap (HS 7204)US$9.71 million
  3. 3. Charcoal (HS 4402)US$3.46 million
  4. 4. Dried and salted fish (HS 0305)US$2.78 million
  5. 5. Copper scrap (HS 7404)US$2.51 million
  6. 6. Groundnuts (HS 1202)US$1.09 million
  7. 7. Live cattle (HS 0102)US$833,100
  8. 8. Plastic scrap (HS 3915)US$663,852
Show 12 more products
  1. 9. Natural gums and resins (HS 1301)US$558,604
  2. 10. Cereal flours, not wheat (HS 1102)US$459,213
  3. 11. Refined petroleum products (HS 2710)US$296,006
  4. 12. Motor cars (HS 8703)US$167,044
  5. 13. Sawn wood (HS 4407)US$160,410
  6. 14. Prepared fruit and nuts (HS 2008)US$156,841
  7. 15. Other oilseeds (HS 1207)US$146,034
  8. 16. Sorting and crushing machinery (HS 8474)US$116,611
  9. 17. Gold (HS 7108)US$72,000
  10. 18. Soft drinks and flavored waters (HS 2202)US$69,217
  11. 19. Glass bottles and jars (HS 7010)US$65,700
  12. 20. Hand tools, power-operated (HS 8467)US$60,278
  • These are South Sudan's own 2025 reports to UN Comtrade; the flow includes re-exports, and South Sudan reports no 2024 data, so no prior year is shown. Source⁠ (opens in a new tab)
  • Crude oil is 99.3 percent of 2025 exports, and the next line is under 0.3 percent, so the other lines are small. Source⁠ (opens in a new tab)
  • The World Bank's January 2026 report puts oil at 99 percent of exports without naming a year; UN Comtrade's 2025 data put crude oil at 99.3 percent. Source⁠ (opens in a new tab)
  • The statistics bureau shows 2024 exports of US$1.71 billion without product codes, so this guide ranks the 2025 reporter data instead. Source⁠ (opens in a new tab)

Source: UN Comtrade, South Sudan exports by product, 2025⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025

Where the goods go

2025, share of goods exports

  • Malaysia36.7%
  • United Arab Emirates19.2%
  • Singapore17.4%
  • Italy11.7%
  • China10.9%
  • Oman1.2%
  • Thailand1.1%
  • India1%
  • Shares follow crude oil sales: the five largest buyers took 95.9 percent of 2025 exports, and Kenya's share rounds to 0.0 percent. Source⁠ (opens in a new tab)

Source: UN Comtrade, South Sudan exports by destination, 2025⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025

  • Only one product line, crude oil, reaches 0.5 percent of exports and US$50,000, so the list of meaningful lines is short. Source⁠ (opens in a new tab)

2. What to look into next

Our reading

Promote:Global’s reading of the figures above, not a source’s statement, and not advice.

3. Trade agreements

What each arrangement can mean for a seller, and its limits. A preference is conditional: check the rules of origin before you quote.

  • European Union Everything But Arms (Regulation (EU) No 978/2012)

    South Sudan is a least developed country, so goods it exports to the European Union can enter without duties or quotas, except arms.

    Rules-based preference: the consolidated text of November 2023 lists South Sudan, and Regulation (EU) 2026/1395 keeps it under Everything But Arms from January 1, 2027.

    Source: European Union, Regulation 978/2012, consolidated November 2023⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 28, 2023

  • United Kingdom Developing Countries Trading Scheme

    South Sudan sits in the Comprehensive Preferences tier for least developed countries, with zero tariffs on all products except arms and ammunition.

    Rules-based preference, not unconditional market access; check the scheme's rules of origin and the current tier list before you quote.

    Source: United Kingdom, DCTS preference tiers guidance⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  • AGOA

    AGOA is the United States' trade preference program for eligible African countries, and South Sudan does not receive its duty-free treatment.

    The June 30, 2026 notice lists South Sudan among countries not designated for 2026; check the latest designation list before you quote.

    Source: Federal Register, AGOA eligibility review notice, June 30, 2026⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of June 30, 2026

4. Steps to export

The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.

Exporting from South Sudan

  1. Apply for a Tax Identification Number on the eTax portal, which the chamber asks for before it issues a certificate of origin.South Sudan Revenue AuthorityOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: South Sudan Revenue Authority, eTax portal, 2026⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  2. Apply for a general export license, and a special license from the Minister if the goods are restricted.Ministry of Trade and IndustryOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Imports and Exports Act 2012, Laws of South Sudan⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of January 31, 2012

  3. Get a phytosanitary certificate for plant products from the Directorate of Plant Protection.Ministry of Agriculture and Food SecurityOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Directorate of Plant Protection⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  4. Ask the standards bureau whether your product needs the quality mark permit or the certificate of verification and compliance that the hub lists.South Sudan National Bureau of StandardsOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Trade Information Hub, export procedures by product⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

Show 2 more export steps
  1. Get a certificate of origin from the national chamber, since the revenue authority's law also calls for an e-Certificate of Origin on every export.South Sudan National Chamber of Commerce, Industry and AgricultureOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: SSNCCIA, certificate of origin service page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  2. Declare the consignment on the eCustoms portal and obtain customs declaration form C17, which the hub lists in each export procedure.South Sudan Revenue AuthorityOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Trade Information Hub, export procedures by product⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

5. Organizations that help exporters

Start with MTI and SSRA. Each card links to the organization’s own site.

Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets

Export development and market information

Show 1 more organization

Customs and tax

Standards and sector requirements

Show 1 more organization

6. Worth knowing

7. How Promote:Global helps

  • Compare potential export marketsSee which markets import what you sell, ranked on public trade data, and read each country before you commit.
  • Check duties and document requirementsCheck the duty, the origin conditions for a preferential rate and the documents a shipment needs.
  • Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
  • Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.

Turn this guide into your South Sudan project.

Use Promote:Global to explore markets, understand requirements and organize your next steps.

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Promote:South Sudan is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.

Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.