The first batch of jasmin rice is shipped to the UK under the UKVFTA. (Photo: VNA) London (VNA) – The first 60 tonnes of jasmin rice shipped to the UKunder the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) hit the shelves in London onJanuary 26.
The top-quality fragrant rice was imported by the Long Dan Limited Company inthe UK from the Vietnam National Seed Group (Vinaseed), and the rice is nowsold at 15.5 GBP (21.28 USD) per kilogramme at the firm's supermarket chain.
Since Vietnamese high-quality rice enjoys zero tariff in the UK market underthe trade pact, which took effect on December 31, 2021, it will gaincompetitive edge over rivals, including those from Thailand.
According to the Vietnamese trade counsellor in the UK Nguyen Canh Cuong, riceshipments to the European country this year will sharply rise against 2020.
He said more UK firms will purchase Vietnamese rice under the UKVFTA, relishingan exciting prospect that Vietnamese rice will expand its market share in theUK this year.
In 2019, the UK, the world’s 9th largest rice importer, splashed out 531million USD buying 671,000 tonnes of Vietnamese rice. However, Vietnamese riceonly accounted for 0.24 percent of the UK’s total rice import. Top riceexporters to the UK included India (22 percent of market share), Pakistan (18percent), Spain (11 percent), Italy (10.9 percent), and Thailand (9.2percent)./.
VNA
