Vietnam's rice exports to Senegal remain low compared to demand
Despite being one of the primary supply sources for Senegal – a country with one of the highest per capita rice consumption rates in West Africa, Vietnam's rice exports to this nation remain modest.
According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Algeria and Senegal, Vietnam shipped 12,000 tonnes of rice to Senegal in 2023, resulting in a turnover of 5.35 million USD, up 215% year-on-year. (Photo: nongnghiep.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) - Despite being one of the primary supplysources for Senegal – a country with one of the highest per capita riceconsumption rates in West Africa, Vietnam's rice exports to this nation remainmodest.
According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Algeria andSenegal, Vietnam shipped 12,000 tonnes of rice to Senegal in 2023,resulting in a turnover of 5.35 million USD, up 215% year-on-year. However, theamount is small compared to the African country’s purchase of 1.3 million tonnesof rice in that year.
Senegal imports between 900,000 and 1 million tonnes of thegrain annually, mostly low-priced 100% broken rice. Its main suppliersinclude India, Thailand, China, Pakistan, Uruguay, and Vietnam. Apart fromserving the domestic market of over 18 million people, the country also importsrice for re-export to neighbouring ones such as Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, andGambia.
At the beginning of 2022, facing rising food prices, theSenegalese government implemented measures to maintain purchasing power,including abolishing VAT on imported rice and reducing import duties on brokenand regular rice to 2.7% from the previous 12.7%.
In the context of scarce supply and Senegal gearing up forpresidential elections in 2024, it is likely that the nation will increase imports ofbroken rice from Asia./.
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According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Algeria and Senegal, Vietnam shipped 12,000 tonnes of rice to Senegal in 2023, resulting in a turnover of 5.35 million USD, up 215% year-on-year. (Photo: nongnghiep.vn) 
