France exports wheat to Sudan for the first time in 18 years

France is preparing to ship approximately 67,000 tonnes of wheat to Sudan, marking the first such shipment from the European Union’s largest wheat producer to the country in 18 years. According to data from the London Stock Exchange Group, a bulk carrier began loading in Rouen and is scheduled to complete loading at the port of Dunkirk next week.

This development comes as traders monitor potential shifts in grain supply routes. Ongoing attacks on Black Sea ports have disrupted trade from Russia and Ukraine, which have traditionally been Sudan’s primary suppliers. Sudanese central bank data shows that in the first half of 2026, Russian wheat imports accounted for $341 million of the country’s $381 million total wheat expenditure.

Sudan’s demand for foreign grain has increased since the start of its civil war in 2023. The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects that Sudan’s annual wheat imports will reach approximately 2.8 million tonnes during the 2026/27 season.