 HISTORY OF THE GUM ARABIC CO. LTD. |
The Gum Arabic Company limited (GAC) is a private company specialised in the area of foreign trade of Gum Arabic. GAC is established in 1969 and owned by about five thousands Sudanese shareholders, in addition to the Sudanese Ministry of Finance owning 30% of the GAC's capital. GAC is established and given the exclusive monopoly of exporting crude Gum Arabic from the Sudan. Thus, GAC is the sole exporter of crude Gum Arabic from the Sudan since 1969 with experience of more than 30 years. GAG has a well established geographical coverage of the production areas in the Sudan in addition to an extensive assets and facilities that make GAC the best, logistically, in the area of the protocol of monitoring, purchasing, preparing, and exporting Gum Arabic world wide.
o GAC is the sole exporter of crude Gum Arabic from the Sudan since 1969 and the world leader in this area.
o GAC is the exporter of a wide range of grades of the best quality Gum Arabic.
o GAC is a reliable source of continuous and sustainable supply of Gum Arabic for exports in all seasons all the year round.
o GAC provides a customer tailored methods of payments with flexible contracting forms.
o GAC exports only natural, organic, chemical-free and G.M.O free products.
| WHAT IS GUM? |
Acacia is one of the most popular vegetation of the plant kingdom. Although there are over 1100 Acacia species world wide, 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 is 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 kilometres (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 since 4000 BC or even before. The name "Gum Arabic" is believed to be used to describe the gum as it is shipped from Arabian ports to world wide distributions centres (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). However, Gum Arabic is traded in processed forms as well: mechanical or sprayed dried forms and application-specific forms are some of its more sophisticated forms.
| APPLICATIONS OF GUM |
 Confectionery |
This is one of the most important applications. Gum Arabic from Acacia Senegal is the recognised preferred natural constituent for the production of high-quality soft candies. Here the gum is mainly used (and gives the best possible performance) in the raw form, which enables the manufacture of a soft, chewy candy. It renders the product soft but firm, long lasting in the mouth, and provides a clean, non-sticky chewing. Reduced calories soft candies, with a percentage of Gum Arabic ranging up to 40-50%, have been recently and very successfully launched.
Gum Arabic is an excellent flavour carrier and is used by formulators for imparting a clean, long lasting fresh taste. Gum Arabic may be used to emulsify the flavour oils or fats in confections or to retard crystallisation in high sucrose confections. The film forming ability of Gum Arabic makes it a useful ingredient for confectionery coatings including the pan-coating of fruits and nuts. In addition, speciality anti-cariogenic (anti-tooth decay) candies have contained Gum Arabic, which is resistant to degradation by the microorganisms in the human mouth responsible for such effects.
| Miscellaneous Bakery Applications |
Wherever film forming and emulsifying properties without affecting product taste or rheology are needed, Gum Arabic is an ingredient that must be considered.
| Beverages |
As the emulsifying agent of choice, Gum Arabic is widely used in a broad range of beverages. The completeness and stability of the emulsions produced even in normally difficult low acid environments have kept Gum Arabic as an essential ingredient for this usage. It is also used as a component-clouding agent in a wide range of beverages. It can also be used as a clarifying agent in the production alcoholic beverages, such as high quality wines.
| Encapsulated Flavours |
Dry packaged products such as instant drinks, desert mixes, soup bases and "off-the-shelf" spraydried flavours may be formulated using Gum Arabic. Flavour protection, desirable flavour release, long shelf life, and high dispersibility are the advantages offered by Gum Arabic.
| Pharmaceuticals, Vitamins and Cosmetics |
Spraydried Gum Arabic is used both as a carrier in capsules and as a tabletting excipient. One of its oldest and best-known uses has been in cough syrups. Gum Arabic may be used in cosmetic products such as facemasks, hair creams and fixatives, protective creams and lotions.
| High Fiber Formulations |
Gum Arabic, in the hands of creative food technologists, may be formulated as part of the natural nutritional supplements that help to add soluble fiber in a palatable form. Gum Arabic has a long history of being used in concentrations as high as fifty percent in certain confections.
| Miscellaneous Industrial Applications |
The ability of Gum Arabic to form highly uniform films and to ''carry numerous ingredients through cospraydrying, has made it a recognised option in sprayed glazes, also high technology ceramics, and as a flocculating agent in ore refining of certain minerals. It also has uses in paper coatings, textile sizing and finishes, metal corrosion inhibitors, office glues, emulsion prints, and pesticides. A major use is in lithographic inks, where its ability to form excellent films makes it particularly suitable for the treatment of photosensitive plates.
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| FUTURE POTENTIAL |
Gum Arabic from Acacia Senegal is an ancient natural product truly suitable for inclusion in the list of food ingredients for the 21st century. It is natural and in plentiful supply.
Gum Arabic has functional properties unequaled by chemically modified starches and other substitutes. This allows for the formulation of superior products having longer shelf-life etc. New beverage innovations, such as wine coolers, novel confectionery coatings, high fiber drinks and powders, and synergistic combinations with other gums, attest to ongoing research and new product formulation using Gum Arabic. New patents utilising Gum Arabic in confectionery coatings and lithography have been recently granted, and funding for further research into new uses for this product has been made available by both the Gum Arabic Company and international aid organisations.
Efforts on the supply side to breed new varieties of Acacia Senegal that provide gum with especially desirable properties should add nuance and opportunity to the food formulator's palette. The introduction of more advanced quality control and grading/sifting/cleaning operations in the Sudan should further standardise Gum Arabic supplies, allowing for more efficient gum processing and more specific gum grades, readily available directly from the origin.
| AGENTS BY COUNTRY |
Iranex S.A, France, tel. +33-232831818, 235364151
Fax +33-232831919
SINGLEMANN, Germany, tel. +49-40-330257
Fax +49-40-331642
P.L.Thomas Co., USA tel. +1-973-9840900
Fax +1-973-9845666
MALACO LEAF, Sweden, tel +46-26177400
Fax +46-26182182
M.Leaf-Finland, Finland, tel. +358-23334263
Fax +358-22389328
San-Ei, Japan, tel. +5 81-662313944
Fax +5-81-62027689
Gokyo, Japan, tel.+81-62027691
Fax +81-62027689
AGRISALES, UK, tel. +44-1717929015
Fax +44-1717929015
Rathgeb, Italy, tel.+39-02-4813424 0039
Fax 39-02-48195518
Red Carnation, UK, tel. +44-1268412020
Fax +44-1268-410040
Arther Branwell, UK, tel. +44-1992577333
Fax +44-1992561138
Shari Enterprise, India, tel. +91-222002131
Fax +91-222008866, 222008431
Valmar, France, tel +33-442849292
Fax +33- 442841079
Toyota Japan, Japan, tel. +81-332308015
Fax +81-332308049
Need Fill, Korea, tel. +82-225580057
Specgulf, UK, tel. +44-1715865000
Fax 44-1714365710
Jumbo Tading Co., Thailand, tel. +6626555072,
Fax +6622521086
| PRICES FOR 2000/2001 SEASON |
The Gum Arabic Company is pleased to announce its prices for 2000/2001 season as follows:
QUALITY PRICES IN US $ M/T FOB REMARKS
GUM ARABIC H.P.S 2000 NOT SUBJECT TO QUANTITY DISCOUNT
GUM ARABIC KIBBLED 1300 NOT SUBJECT TO QUANTITY DISCOUNT
GUM ARABIC CLEANED 1250 NOT SUBJECT TO QUANTITY DISCOUNT
GUM TALAH 760 NOT SUBJECT TO QUANTITY DISCOUNT
| CONTACT ADDRESSES |
General Manager
Dr.Musa Mohammed Karama
Tel: 0024911-468664 Fax: 0024911-471336
Email: gmanager@gumarab.com
Export Dpt
Mr.Abdalla Ahmed Ali
Tel: 0024911-467923
Email: info@arabgum.com
Research Dpt
Dr.Mohammed El Mubarak Osman
Tel: 0024911-467954
Email: info@gumarab.com
Investment Dpt
Mr.Safi El Din Galal El Din
Tel: 0024911-467940
Email: info@gumarab.com
Technical Dpt
Mr.Mustafa Zakaria
Tel: 0024911-475116
Email: info@arabgum.com
| THE KHARTOUM GUM ARABIC PROCESSING COMPANY (GAPC) |
GAPC Modern Factory, of 8000 square meters is located at Port Sudan, Republic of Sudan.
GAPC has the capability in their fully equipped laboratory at Port Sudan t monitor all chemical and physical data. Their highly qualified laboratory staff thoroughly checks quality and bacteriological conditions on all their products.
GAPC can easily meet JIT supply system, through availability of permanent Pre-harvest forestry stock and Post-harvest stocks in its own warehouses located within the Port Sudan Sea Port. CAPC has regional offices in all Gum Arabic producing areas, within Sudan, to purchase Gum directly from the farmers. It has also a very strong connection of Gum producers and traders in other African countries. GAPC Headquarters and regional offices are connected with an excellent telecommunication network to ensure a smooth and prompt delivery of Gum to the company factory at Port Sudan.
GAPC presently process 100% grade one Kordofan Gum Arabic (Acacia Senegal). Kibbled and powdered according to the specific need of the End User, and Kordofan clean Gums are kibbled separately. The company uses its modern sifting, crushing and powdering machines installed at its Port Sudan Factory.
Total quality control is assured through their internationally approved factory and modern quality control laboratory.
GAPC Head Office in Khartoum links directly with End User through reliable Agents and Liaison Offices around the world.
| Product Specification |
Quality: 100 Kibbled Kordofan Gum Arabic (Acacia Senegal)
Produced by sieving and crushing into uniform size range from about 0.5 mm to 6 mm. Taylor made according to the customer's requirements. Physical and Chemical properties are that of raw material except that product is very clean from bark, sand or foreign materials.
Typical production sizes are the following:
Products Code No. Kibble Size
OUT OF KORDOFAN Clean (K.C.) KB105 < 8 mm
OUT OF KORDOFAN Clean (K.C.) KB107 < 6 mm
OUT OF KORDOFAN Clean (K.C.) KB118 < 2 mm
OUT OF KORDOFAN Clean (K.C.) KB119 < 1 mm
OUT OF KORDOFAN Clean (K.C.) KB120 < 125 micron
OUT OF KORDOFAN Clean (K.C.) KB121 < 210 micron
Out of Hand Piced Selected (H.P.S.) KB160 < 3.5 mm
PACKING: In 25 or 40 or 750 Kgs net 4
Play paper bags with per liner
| ANALYSIS |
Moisture: 15% max.
Optical rotation: (-26 -34)
PH: 4.2 - 4.8
Viscosity: < 400 CPS |
