According to VOV Online, in 2012, the total amount of aquatic exports to 25 African countries reached a whopping US$150 million, up 38 per cent compared to 2011, some of the major products including Tra and Ba Sa fish, shrimp and tuna.
According to the African, West and South Asian Markets Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnamese exporters have been presented with an opportunity to promote seafood exports to the continent as the countries have to import a number orf aquatic products to meet domestic demand due to under-development of the aquaculture industry.
Implementation of aquaculture projects in Africa as well as exporting seafood to neighbouring countries appear to be a possibility for Vietnamese exporters.
Moreover, the domestic supply of Tra fish at stable prices has facilitated trade for Vietnamese exporters with Africa.
Egypt appears to have become Viet Nam’s most promising market with a turnover of US$79.6 million in 2012, up 33 per cent compared to 2011.
Unfortunately, Vietnamese exporters have had to encounter several obstacles while exporting products to the African market.
One of the main difficulties lies in the fact that it takes roughly 40 days to ship goods from Viet Nam to Africa since there is no direct air route between them.
To counter this problem, Vietnamese enterprises need to ensure the quality of their products and meet importers' food safety standards.
Traders have also been asked to set up a distribution network with a single price in Africa's key markets in order to avoid dumping.
Egypt is followed by Tunisia with an export turnover of US$11.16 million, Algeria with US$9.5 million, Cameroon with US$7.1 million and Libya with US$6.5 million.
