SOUTH SUDAN Price Bulletin March 2012
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) monitors trends in staple food prices in countries vulnerable to food insecurity. For each FEWS NET country and region, the Price Bulletin provides a set of charts showing monthly prices in the current marketing year in selected urban centers and allowing users to compare current trends with both five-year average prices, indicative of seasonal trends, and prices in the previous year.
Maize, sorghum, wheat, and groundnuts are the most important food commodities. Sorghum, maize, and groundnuts are the staple foods for the poor in most rural areas. Maize flour and wheat (as bread) are more important for middle-income and rich households in urban areas. Sorghum and maize are generally substitutable for one another but preferences are shifting towards maize over time, especially in the southern half of Southern Sudan. Groundnuts are important for the rural poor in Northern Bahr El Ghazal, Warrap, and Lakes states. Short- term sorghum is harvested in July – August in Greater Equatoria states and in September – October in Greater Bahr el Ghazal, Greater Upper Nile states and Jonglei states, and long-term sorghum in December – January particularly in Lakes, Western Bahr El Ghazal, Warrap, and Upper Nile states. Maize grain and flour from Uganda are available throughout the year because of the bi-modal rainfall pattern and carryover stocks. The main retail markets are in the state capitals, namely, Juba, Aweil, Malakal, Wau, Torit, Kuajok, Bentiu, Bor, Rumbek, and Yambio, but historical price data sets (2006-2010) are only available for Juba, Aweil, Malakal, and Wau only. The most important local wholesale market is in Renk, a mechanized cereal producing area in Upper Nile state. Aweil, Wau, Kuajok, and Bentiu are mostly supplied in cereals from Khartoum and El Obeid, while Malakal is also supplied by Renk through Kosti. In Juba, Torit, Bor, and Rumbek, cereal supplies mostly come from Uganda.
Sorghum: Nominal retail prices in Juba (Konyokonyo) Sorghum: Nominal retail prices in Wau 8.00 8.00
6.00 6.00
4.00 4.00 SSP/kg SSP/kg SSP/kg
2.00 2.00
0.00 0.00
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
3-yr average 2009-2011 Previous year 2011 Current year 2012 3-yr average 2009-2011 Previous year 2011 Current year 2012
*FEWS NET gratefully acknowledges WFP VAM for providing price data. FEWS NET South Sudan FEWS NET Washington FEWS NET is a USAID-funded activity. The authors’ views expressed in this Hai Jalaba Plot 3, Block IV, 1717 H St NW publication do not necessarily reflect the view of the United States Agency for Apartment 1; Juba. Washington DC 20006 International Development or the United States Government. Tel: + 249 955 048 584; + 249 [email protected] 927 724 178; +249 909 957 194. SOUTH SUDAN Price Bulletin March 2012
Sorghum: Nominal retail prices in Malakal Sorghum: Nominal retail prices in Aweil 8.00 8.00
6.00 6.00
4.00 4.00 SSP/kg SSP/kg SSP/kg SSP/kg
2.00 2.00
0.00 0.00
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
3-yr average 2009-2011 Previous year 2011 Current year 2012 3-yr average 2009-2011 Previous year 2011 Current year 2012
Maize: Nominal retail prices in Juba (Konyokonyo) Wheat Flour: Nominal retail prices in Juba (Konyokonyo) 8.00 12.00
6.00 9.00
4.00 6.00 SSP/kg SSP/kg SSP/kg
2.00 3.00
0.00 0.00
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
3-yr average 2009-2011 Previous year 2011 Current year 2012 3-yr average 2009-2011 Previous year 2011 Current year 2012
Wheat Flour: Nominal retail prices in Wau Wheat Flour: Nominal retail prices in Malakal 12.00 12.00
9.00 9.00
6.00 6.00 SSP/kg SSP/kg
3.00 3.00
0.00 0.00
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
3-yr average 2009-2011 Previous year 2011 Current year 2012 3-yr average 2009-2011 Previous year 2011 Current year 2012
Groundnut: Nominal retail prices in Aweil 30.00
25.00
20.00
15.00 SSP/kg SSP/kg
10.00
5.00
0.00
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
3-yr average 2009-2011 Previous year 2011 Current year 2012
Famine Early Warning Systems Network 2