Acacia is one of the most popular vegetations of the plant kingdom. Although there are over 1100 Acacia species worldwide, Acacia Senegal and Acacia seyal remain the most commercially exploited species of the whole Acacia resource. Both species are of African origin.

The Sudanese gum belt extends from latitude 10 to 18 where the habitat Acacia Senegal are sandy soils -arid zones-from latitude 13 upwards. The species play an important ecological role in improving climatic conditions; and preventing desert encroachment. Acacia seyal domain is the wet clay soils of Central and Northern Sudan -the rich Savanna regions,- from latitude 10 downwards. The whole area of the gum belt is around 25200 squared kilometers (6000 feddans) and is inhabited by over five million Sudanese people. The extensive area of the Gum Arabic belt MAKES SUDAN THE DOMINANT PRODUCER OF GUM ARABIC WITH OVER 80% OF WORLD PRODUCTION AND A GUM ARABIC MARKET SHARE OF AROUND 60%.

Gum Arabic is an ancient ingredient that has been used sine 4000 BC or before. The name “Gum Arabic” is believed to be used to describe the gum as it is shipped from Arabian ports to worldwide distributions centers (mainly Europe).

Gum Arabic production begins with the Sudanese farmer, who tends and protects his very valuable trees throughout the year. At exactly the right time of year, determined by his knowledge, local conditions and expertise acquired over many years ( usually around Mid October), the farmers “tap” their trees and the gum exudes where the bark has been cut. Six weeks later the first gum collection is made. Up to three further collections are made at three-week intervals. The farmer then transports the gum to sell it in one of the gum auction markets.

Local Merchants buy the gum at agreed floor price or higher. The gum is then delivered to cleaning sheds, where the gum is selected and graded into three distinct grades:
clean amber sorts “CAS”, siftings and dust. The graded gum is then sold by the merchants to the GAC.
The gum, packed into 50 or 100-kg burlap bags is then transported to exit ports from Sudan, mainly Port Sudan on the Red sea.
GAC provide different grades of Gum Arabic from the distinct two types of Gum Arabic : Hashab or Kordofan derived from Acacia Senegal trees and Talha derived from Acacia Seyal trees.

Gum Arabic exported by GAG is mainly Crude of the grades : Hand Picked Selected (HPS), Cleaned Gum , Siftings and Dust. Whereas all the above grades are of the type
“Hashab or Kordofan” derived from Acacia Senegal trees, Gum Talha which is derived from the Acacia Seyal trees is also exported in the crude form and it is exported as one grade.

GAC is also exporting Kibbled Gum Arabic of the type Acacia Senegal ( Hashab, Kordofan) . GAC isM~&jlanning the production and exporting of mechanical powder of the Gum Arabic type Hashab or Kordofan world wide. However, Gum Arabic is traded in processed forms as well : mechanical or sprayed dried forms and application-specific forms iii some of its more sophisticated