Khartoum — Excessive fees charged by localities on livestock have resulted in total suspension of exports, an official at the industry's chamber said.

A cattleman walks with cows before they are slaughtered at an abattoir near Khartoum March 26, 2011. S(REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

The Secretary General at the Chamber of Meats and Livestock Khalid al-Magbool said that these duties were levied by these localities through the issuance of a temporary decree.

Al-Magbool described this move as "unfortunate" and a "defeat" to the government's economic plan which seeks to boost exports to provide fresh source of hard currency following the secession of the oil-rich South Sudan in July 2011.

He also warned that prices of meat in local markets are set to increase as well by a significant amount and that other sectors that feed off the livestock industry will be negatively impacted.

The industry official said a press conference will be held on Wednesday to reveal to the public all the facts related to this issue, al-Magbool said.

Last month the Sudanese minister of livestock, Fisheries and Pastures Faisal Hassan Ibrahim announced that the country's livestock exports jumped by 96.6% in 2012.

Khartoum says livestock exports contribute about 20% of the national GDP and 50% of the agricultural output. It aims to bolster the livestock industry by encouraging foreign investments in this sector.

Last November Sudan granted China permission to set up a free-trade zone for agricultural products and livestock to boost bilateral transactions.