Conflict Halts Sudan’s Exports of Gum Used in Pop-Tarts to Pills

Sudan’s exports of gum arabic, a key ingredient used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food, have ground to a halt since a conflict between rival military factions erupted last month, raising fears of a global shortage.

The North African nation supplies about two-thirds of the world’s gum arabic, which is used as an emulsifier, adhesive or binding agent in everything from Kellogg Co.’s Pop-Tarts breakfast pastries to sodas manufactured by PepsiCo Inc. Stocks are either stuck in warehouses or at production sites, said Ibrahim Abubaker, chairman of Quality House, a company that exports the tree sap to Germany. ...