HCMC – Given Africa’s need to import around 17.7 million tons of rice from now to the year-end, Vietnamese businesses have ample opportunity to boost rice exports to the African markets for the rest of the year, according to the Asia-Africa Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts that Africa will need an estimated 42.2 million tons of rice for consumption and reserves this year, rising 570,000 tons against last year.

Though the rice farming area in Africa has been expanded for many years, rice productivity in these areas is still lower than their consumer demand and increase in population.

To meet the demand for rice consumption this year, Africa plans to import around 17.7 million tons of rice, including jasmine, white rice and broken rice, from India, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam.

According to the Asia-Africa Market Department, Vietnam has exported over 600,000 tons of rice to 54 African countries, including major markets such as Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Mozambique, Cameroon, Gabon, Tanzania and Egypt.

Vietnamese businesses are recommended to consolidate their market share of white rice, long grain rice, parboiled rice and jasmine while enhancing competitiveness in terms of price, quality and payment terms in African countries.