According to Mr. Hoang Duc Nhuan, Vietnam Trade Counselor in Algeria and Mali, Niger, Senegal and Gambia markets, Vietnam's rice exports to the African market increased sharply in the first six months of 2020 and are expected to continue to increase in the coming months and the year 2021.

Africa is a market with high demand for rice, especially West Africa due to insufficient rice production, especially in the years when natural disasters, crop failures, political instability or epidemics occur.

On average, each year, this continent imports 12-13 million tons of rice of all types. In 2019, Vietnam exported rice to 35 out of 55 African countries with a turnover of nearly USD 630 million, in which the largest rice import markets include Côte d'Ivore, Ghana, Senegal, Mozambique, Cameroon. , Gabon, Tanzania, Egypt, etc.

Particularly, exports to markets in which the Vietnam Trade Office in Algeria is in charge include Senegal with USD 32.6 million, Algeria (USD 6.3 million), Gambia (USD 185,000), Mali (USD 131,000), etc.

In 2020, the plague of locusts in East Africa, the COVID-19 pandemic, high population growth and competitive international rice prices are the reasons for the increasing stocking up on food and foodstuffs by African governments and people, including rice.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Africa's rice demand in 2020 is estimated at 15.7 million tons, of which Senegal has to import 1.25 million tons (up 13.6%) and Mali to import 350,000 tons (up 16). By 2021, it is forecast that the region's rice imports will continue to increase further.

Notably, in the first six months of 2020, Vietnam's rice exports to Senegal reached 41,149 tons, earning USD 14.58 million, increasing both in volume and value over the same period last year.

Besides rice, there are other strong products of Vietnam that can boost exports to these markets.

Such as agricultural and food products (coffee, pepper, cashew nuts, vegetables, confectionery and cereal products), seafood (pangasius, tuna), industrial goods (textiles, footwear, computers, electronic products and components, plastic products, fertilizers, chemicals), vehicles (components, auto parts, motorbikes) and medical supplies.

In the opposite direction, Vietnam can continue to buy raw materials such as cotton, raw cashew nuts, animal feed, and seafood at reasonable prices from these countries to serve the domestic manufacturing and processing industry.

From mid-July to early August 2020, countries like Mali, Niger and Senegal reopened their air and land borders after having well controlled the pandemic. These are positive signals to help these countries restore trade and investment exchanges with the outside, including Vietnam.

Kylie Nguyen