According to statistics of the General Department of Customs of Vietnam, in the first 4 months of this year, except for rice products, export of other agricultural products (coffee, pepper) and our country's fisheries to large markets in Africa such as South Africa, Egypt, Angeria, Nigeria all have growth. Particularly for rice, export turnover to Ivory Coast, Angola and Senegal has been reduced sharply due to the fierce competition of cheap Thai and Indian rice.

The situation of exporting agricultural and fishery products to Africa in the first 4 months

Agricultural products
Rice: except for rice exports to Ghana reaches US $ 50.27 million (+59%) with a total volume of 95.020 tons, the export of rice to other large markets such as Ivory, Angola, Angeria and Senegal All have a decline in $ 20.97 million, down 47%, An-Gieps 2.84 million USD, down to 84%, Angola only reached 1.48 million USD much lower than that of 28.30 million USD, Senegal 350,953 USD, compared to 9.74 million USD in the same period in 2013). The reason is due to the fierce competition of cheap rice of Thailand and India. In the first quarter, Thailand exported to Africa more than 1 million tons of rice at a lower price of Vietnamese rice from 5 to 10 USD/ton. Meanwhile, Indian and Pakistan's rice continues to have the advantages of transporting fees lower than Vietnamese rice, so the price is 30 to 40 USD/ton cheaper. In 2013, Vietnam exported rice to 35 out of 55 African countries with a total turnover of 775.02 million USD, up 2% compared to 2012. Rice is the No. 1 export item of our country. In this area, 27% of Vietnam's total export value to Africa and accounting for 26% of Vietnam's total rice export turnover to the world.

Coffee: In the first 4 months of the year, the export turnover of some African countries had a strong growth, specific to An-Gi-ri reached US $ 39.48 million, up 92% over the same period; To South Africa 9.5 million USD (+375%), to Egypt 2.5 million USD (+20%). In 2013, exporting coffee to Africa reached US $ 67 million mainly to North African and South African markets, specifically An-Gii (31.8 million USD), South Africa (11.8 million USD ), Tunisia (9.4 million USD), Moroccan (US $ 6.3 million), Egypt (5.4 million USD), Libi (1.2 million USD).

Pepper: Pepper export turnover also has growth in which exports to Egypt reached 16.9 million USD (+ 8%), South Africa 3.4 million USD (+ 10%). In 2013, Vietnam exported pepper to 17 African countries with a total turnover of 58 million USD, of which the largest markets were Egypt (25.8 million USD), South Africa (US $ 12.4 million), Angia (8.6 million USD), Tunisia (5.3 million USD), Gambia (1.4 million USD), Morocco (1.3 million USD).

- Aquatic products
Egypt is still the largest seafood export market in Vietnam in Africa with the main item is Pangasius and Ba Sa fish. Seafood exports to Egypt have recovered from political instability recently. In the first 4 months of the year, this export turnover reached 21.46 million USD (+4%). Other markets have no statistics of the General Department of Customs due to the small export turnover. Although the Republic of South Africa is Vietnam's largest export market in Africa (US $ 764.7 million in 2013), the export items are industrial goods (mobile phones, shoes). In 2013, the value of seafood export to this market was only 2.1 million USD. In order to promote the export of pangasius to South Africa, on May 23, in Johannesburg, the Vietnamese Embassy deal in South Africa in collaboration with the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce held an event to promote fish products. Tra Vietnam. Many of the country's lame houses have attended and appreciated Vietnam's pangasius.

In 2013, Vietnam exported aquatic products to 32 African countries with a total turnover of $ 127 million. The largest import markets are mainly located in the North African region such as Egypt (56.1 million USD), Tunisia (11.4 million USD), Libi ($ 9 million), Algeria (US $ 8.5 million). , Moroccan (US $ 4.7 million) and some other countries such as Nigeria (5.6 million USD), Reunion (4.4 million USD), Angola ($ 3.8 million) ...

- Measures to promote exports
In order to support businesses to strengthen exports to Africa, from now until the end of the year of Africa, West Asia, South Asia - Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue to implement a series of activities such as strengthening work. Research, propagate and promote the needs of agricultural and fishery products of potential markets in the region, import and export regulations on the mass media, organize seminars, forums in localities; Continue to understand the mechanism and propose signing of rice trade memorandums with countries wishing to import rice such as Ivory Coast, Cong-Go, Burkin FASO ... monitoring, urging and supporting. The focal point of the two sides implemented the signed rice (Sierra Leone, Ghen, Comoros). Continuing to organize trade and trade trafficking groups in An-Giep, Angel, South Africa, Ivory Coast, etc., focusing on promoting the export of agricultural and fishery products; Coordinate to promote cooperation between Vietnamese commercial banks and African commercial banks to facilitate the payment of import and export; Support Vietnamese businesses to learn the procedures for opening bonded warehouses, open representative offices, branches, set up companies in some key rice markets for direct sales; Encourage businesses to participate in fairs and exhibitions on international agricultural and fishery products such as agricultural exhibitions at Moroccan, Alger International Fair, Lagos International Fair in Nigeria ...; Coordinate with the Embassy deals in Africa to investigate partners, introduce reputable business, investment and customers for domestic businesses; Mobilize African importers to Vietnam to participate in major commercial events and purchases, etc.

Hoang Duc Nhuan.

Source: Customs.gov.vn/