ee months of 2013, seafood export turnover stood at US$30.3 million, an increase of 15 percent compared to the same period last year.The Department of African, West Asia, South Asia Market of the Ministry of Industry and Trade said that almost African countries did not grow the aquaculture sector.
Therefore, they needed to import seafood to meet domestic demands. Moreover, African people are also tending to use seafood instead of meat at present. These factors have opened up opportunities for Vietnam businesses to promote seafood exports and can study the possibility of seafood feeding in some African countries in order to serve local demands and export to the neighboring countries. Export turnover of Basa fish, Tra fish and shrimp to African countries has been continuously increasing in recent years. However, some Vietnamese businesses said that they faced difficulties in the exporting process to the African market. The first obstacle is due to far geographical distance. The direct flights to a number of African countries have not yet been opened. If shipped seafood by sea, it takes up to 40 days.
Therefore, the export of fresh seafood currently has faced difficulties.
Some African countries, such as Morocco, Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria apply high tariffs and require complicated administrative procedures. In addition, the majority of African countries has late payments and happened commercial fraud via the internet, leading to psychological concerns for Vietnamese businesses.
To overcome difficulties and promote seafood exports to the African market in a sustainable manner, the Department of African, West Asia, South Asia Market said that Vietnamese businesses should actively contact with Vietnamese commercial counselors in Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa and Nigeria to find out information in terms of market and partners.
Vietnamese businesses should actively participate in market research organizations, trade promotion programs, specialized international exhibitions, business seminars and forums organized by domestic trade promotion agencies in order to find out confident partners. African countries imported Vietnamese seafood in 2012, including Egypt (US$79.6 million), Tunisia (US$11.16 million), Nigeria (US$11 million), Algeria (US$9.5 million USD), Cameroon (US$7.1 million), Libya (US$6.5 million), Morocco (US$4.2 million), South Africa (US$3.7 million), Kenya (US$2.8 million), Mauritius (US$2.4 million), Sudan (US$2.2 million) and Congo (US$2 million). Vietnam mainly exported Tra fish, Basa fish, frozen shrimp, peeled shrimp and tuna to African countries in 2012. Algeria, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa mainly imported frozen Tra fish.
