According to a report by the Financial Times, the UAE has halted all cargo movements to and from Port Sudan since early August, a move that has significantly impacted the flow of South Sudanese crude oil processed in the emirate of Fujairah, one of the world’s busiest marine fuel hubs.
Located on the eastern coast of the UAE, Fujairah has cemented its position as one of the world’s busiest marine fuel hubs and a strategic artery in global energy logistics.
According to data from the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, sales of marine fuel at the port rose to 7.6 million cubic metres (about 7.5 million metric tons) in 2024 – a 1.9% increase from the previous year, reversing a recent downturn and underscoring its growing importance in international bunkering and oil transit.
The emirate’s facilities serve as a critical refuelling and blending point for global shipping routes, including those connecting Africa’s Red Sea ports and Asia’s industrial corridors.
The UAE’s decision to halt cargo movements to and from Port Sudan has therefore not only disrupted Sudan’s oil exports but also affected the intricate web of trade flows that pass through Fujairah, highlighting how geopolitical tensions can ripple across the global energy supply chain.
The blockade, imposed by the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure on August 7, follows Sudan’s decision in May to sever diplomatic ties with Abu Dhabi.
The Sudanese government, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, accuses the UAE of arming the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) a paramilitary group led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, whose two-year conflict with Sudan’s army has killed an estimated 150,000 people.
Economic fallout from Sudan’s civil war
The blockade has hit South Sudan particularly hard. The landlocked country relies on Port Sudan to export about 149,000 barrels of crude oil daily, its main source of national revenue. Much of this oil previously went to Vitol’s refinery in Fujairah, where it was processed into low-sulphur bunker fuel used to power international shipping fleets.
With the blockade in place, no South Sudanese cargoes have arrived in the UAE since July 30, forcing Vitol’s facility which processes roughly 100,000 barrels per day, to seek more expensive alternative crude sources.
Data from analytics firm Kpler cited by the Financial Times indicates that some of this displaced crude has been redirected to Malaysia, where Vitol operates another refining terminal.
The shift marks a significant change for the region’s oil logistics network, underscoring the wider economic disruption caused by Sudan’s ongoing conflict and diplomatic isolation.
UAE’s position and the broader geopolitical context
The UAE’s decision to block Sudanese shipments came amid a worsening “war of words” between Abu Dhabi and Sudan’s military government.
The UAE claims its actions are based on national security concerns and logistical complications. Still, the move also reflects growing tensions with governments in the Sahel and Red Sea regions that have accused the Gulf state of deep political interference.
For Sudan, the loss of access to the UAE market adds to its economic woes, with inflation soaring, exports collapsing, and infrastructure crippled by civil conflict.
For the UAE, however, the blockade signals its willingness to assert economic and strategic control even at the expense of vital African partnerships.
