Prices of some commodities have dramatically dropped at the market in Renk County in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State, the country’s northernmost county.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, several traders attributed the reason to improving relations between the two Sudans as well as booming border trade between the county and Sudan’s White Nile, South Kordofan and Blue Nile States.

The business owners in Renk noted the market is witnessing relative stability in prices of consumer goods especially sorghum, cooking oil and sugar.

A sack of sorghum, for example, dropped in price from 300 SSP to 90 SSP and 10 kilograms of sugar now costs 45 SSP compared to 50 SSP in the past. A sack of wheat flour dropped in price from 150 SSP to 135 SSP, a trader explained.

Previous high prices of commodities was due to restricted direct trade from Sudan southward to Renk town and the closure of border checkpoints. 

File photo: Renk market at dusk