Vietnams rice exports to Africa keep increasing

Vietnam's rice exports to Africa increased sharply in the first half of 2020 and are expected to surge in the remainder of the year and in 2021, according to Vietnamese Trade Counsellor to Algeria Hoang Duc Nhuan.

Africa is one of the largest rice importers in the world. Every year, Africa imports about 12-13 million tonnes of rice. In 2019, Vietnam shipped rice worth nearly US$630 million to 35 out of the total 55 African countries, including major markets such as Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, Mozambique, Cameroon, Gabon, Tanzania, and Egypt, according to VOV.

Notably in January-June, Vietnam exported 41,150 tonnes of rice with turnover of US$14.58 million, up 28.5 times in volume and 19.5 times in value.

The Vietnamese Trade Office in Algeria, which is also in charge of Mali, Niger, Senegal and Gambia, has been updating adjustments in their trade policies and rice import regulations to promptly inform to the Ministry of Industry and Trade as well as introduce businesses opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises.

Significantly, during the first half of 2020, Vietnam's rice exports to Senegal reached 41,149 tons, and the turnover reached $ 14.58 million, up 28.5 times in volume and 19.5 times in value compared to. same period last year. Senegal's food production meets about 20% of domestic demand.

Each year, Senegal still has to import from 800,000 to 900,000 tons of rice, of which more than 90% is broken rice. Last April, the Senegal Government launched a campaign to distribute relief food to people in need in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, informed Bao tin tuc.

Department of Agro Processing and Market Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) said that in the first 7 months of 2020, Vietnam exported nearly 3.9 million tons of rice, earning $ 1.9 billion, down 1.4% in volume but up 10.9% in value over the same period in 2019. In particular, in the first half of the year, China and Africa are the two markets that buy the most Vietnamese rice, reported by VTV.

Besides rice, Vietnam could boost exports of other farm produce such as coffee, pepper, cashew nut, fruit and vegetable, confectionery, cereal and aquatic products, as well as industrial products such as garment-textile, footwear, computers, electronic products and spare parts.

Vietnam could continue purchasing raw materials with reasonable prices from the markets to serve the processing and production sectors at home.

From mid- July to early August 2020, Mali, Niger and Senegal have re-opened some air and land routes after controlling the Covid-19 pandemic. This would help resume trade and investment exchanges with other countries, including Vietnam.