Vietnam will focus on Africa, West and South Asian markets to boostrice exports amidst harsh competition anticipated this year, accordingto the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Those markets saw rising demands for rice, the ministry's Department of Africa, Western and Southern Asia Markets said.
Thedepartment cited statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organisationof the United Nations, which stated that rice consumption in Africa,with a population of more than 1 billion, was estimated at some 24million tonnes per year and rising.
Since 2009, Africa has imported 8-10 million tonnes of rice annually, worth between 3.5-5 billion USD.
Thedepartment pointed out that import demands for rice in West andSouthern Asia were also high. However, currently many countries, such asSaudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bangladesh, mainly imported rice from Thailandor India.
Statistics from the Vietnam General Departmentof Customs showed that, as of November 2014, Vietnamese rice wasexported to 46 of 78 markets in Africa, Western and Southern Asiamarkets, with a total turnover of about 410 million USD.
Riceexports to major markets, including Ivory Coast, Angola, and Cameroon,however, declined sharply last year due to price competition fromThailand, India and Pakistan.
The decline was also attributed to the impact from the Ebola epidemic, which struck several West Africa countries.
The ministry believes there are significant potentials for Vietnam to expand rice exports into these markets this year.
Amongmeasures being undertaken to boost rice exports, the ministry said,included negotiating memoranda of understanding (MoU) to sell rice tothe Ivory Coast, Kenya, Angola, Mozambique and Madagascar.
Also,marketing and promotional efforts would be strengthened, whileco-ordination with other governmental agencies involved inagro-forestry-fisheries exports would be improved.
Supportto provide market information and opportunities, along with theestablishment of warehouses in major markets, such as Cameroon, Angola,and Mozambique, would also be provided to make it easier for Vietnameseexporters to expand into those markets.
2014 was adifficult year for rice exports from Vietnam due to the impact ofoversupply, high inventories and significant pressure from thecompetition, besides the impact from El Nino, Ebola and political unrestin several regions.
Statistics showed that as of November,rice export from Vietnam reached 6.062 million tonnes, valued at 2.8billion USD, down 2.3 percent in volume, while up 2.6 percent in value.Rice exports for the full year were expected to be 6.5 million tonnes.
Asdifficulties for rice exports were expected to continue this year, theministry urged keeping a close watch on market fluctuations andexpanding exports to new and potential market, while enhancing thequality of Vietnamese rice.
Beginning January 9, Vietnameserice included a tax rate of 20 percent when imported to Mexico and arate of 9 percent was applied on paddy-raised rice.
The taxincrease seeks to protect Mexico's rice production, after Mexican ricecultivation declined by nearly 88 percent after the country's free tradepolicies in rice imports came into force.
The Vietnam Food Association noted that Mexico was a new potential customer for rice exports from Vietnam.-VNA
Those markets saw rising demands for rice, the ministry's Department of Africa, Western and Southern Asia Markets said.
Thedepartment cited statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organisationof the United Nations, which stated that rice consumption in Africa,with a population of more than 1 billion, was estimated at some 24million tonnes per year and rising.
Since 2009, Africa has imported 8-10 million tonnes of rice annually, worth between 3.5-5 billion USD.
Thedepartment pointed out that import demands for rice in West andSouthern Asia were also high. However, currently many countries, such asSaudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bangladesh, mainly imported rice from Thailandor India.
Statistics from the Vietnam General Departmentof Customs showed that, as of November 2014, Vietnamese rice wasexported to 46 of 78 markets in Africa, Western and Southern Asiamarkets, with a total turnover of about 410 million USD.
Riceexports to major markets, including Ivory Coast, Angola, and Cameroon,however, declined sharply last year due to price competition fromThailand, India and Pakistan.
The decline was also attributed to the impact from the Ebola epidemic, which struck several West Africa countries.
The ministry believes there are significant potentials for Vietnam to expand rice exports into these markets this year.
Amongmeasures being undertaken to boost rice exports, the ministry said,included negotiating memoranda of understanding (MoU) to sell rice tothe Ivory Coast, Kenya, Angola, Mozambique and Madagascar.
Also,marketing and promotional efforts would be strengthened, whileco-ordination with other governmental agencies involved inagro-forestry-fisheries exports would be improved.
Supportto provide market information and opportunities, along with theestablishment of warehouses in major markets, such as Cameroon, Angola,and Mozambique, would also be provided to make it easier for Vietnameseexporters to expand into those markets.
2014 was adifficult year for rice exports from Vietnam due to the impact ofoversupply, high inventories and significant pressure from thecompetition, besides the impact from El Nino, Ebola and political unrestin several regions.
Statistics showed that as of November,rice export from Vietnam reached 6.062 million tonnes, valued at 2.8billion USD, down 2.3 percent in volume, while up 2.6 percent in value.Rice exports for the full year were expected to be 6.5 million tonnes.
Asdifficulties for rice exports were expected to continue this year, theministry urged keeping a close watch on market fluctuations andexpanding exports to new and potential market, while enhancing thequality of Vietnamese rice.
Beginning January 9, Vietnameserice included a tax rate of 20 percent when imported to Mexico and arate of 9 percent was applied on paddy-raised rice.
The taxincrease seeks to protect Mexico's rice production, after Mexican ricecultivation declined by nearly 88 percent after the country's free tradepolicies in rice imports came into force.
The Vietnam Food Association noted that Mexico was a new potential customer for rice exports from Vietnam.-VNA
