Update: Demand for importing rice in Africa

The demand for rice in Africa is increasing because people’s lives are still difficult while this is an area affected by natural disasters and political instability.

Demand for importing rice in Africa over the past time

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the demand for rice in Africa ranges from 24-24.5 million tons/year, the average consumption per capita is 22.1 kg/year. .

Africa has a large area of arable land, but it cannot meet the continuously increasing demand for rice. From 2016 until now, this region has to import food from many countries such as: Thailand, Vietnam, India; each year imports 8 – 10 million tons of rice, worth 3.5 – 5 billion USD. The growth rate of rice imports is not high, only 2-3%/year, depending on the situation of domestic rice production, especially weather factors. Currently, many countries export rice to Africa, of which Thailand is still the rice supplier with the largest volume and varieties. The largest rice importing countries in Africa are: Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Algeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, Guinea… The Nigerian market accounts for 30% of the total rice exported to Africa, followed by South Africa (5%), Ivory Coast, Senegal (5%), Ghana (4%)…

The reason for the high demand for importing rice in Africa

Rice is the staple food of more than 1 billion people in Africa, along with millet, maize, and vermicelli. However, people here still prefer to eat rice because of the convenience in processing, long-term preservation, and longer-lasting satiety than other traditional grains. Moreover, compared with the prices of other foods, rice is cheaper than the average. Therefore, the demand for rice imports in Africa has increased over the years. Rice has become a popular food in daily meals, with the highest per capita rice consumption in the region being Guinea Bissau (112 kg/person/year), Sierra Leone (88.6 kg/person/year), Guinea (73 kg/person/year) and Gabon (72 kg/person/year).

Another reason for the increased demand for rice imports is that recently, India has suspended exports of non-basmati rice, including dried rice. On the other hand, due to improved incomes, African consumers in Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana… switch to higher quality rice, especially Thai white rice. Therefore, the export of rice in Africa does not stop at cheap rice, but also high- quality specialty rice. Africa is currently a very potential market, especially in West Africa due to insufficient domestic rice production, especially in years of natural disasters, crop failures, political instability or epidemics.

PVMachino – ensure steps to export rice to Africa

PVMachino is a leading rice importer and exporter in Vietnam with a standard rice quality testing process required by the State. Our company always gives priority to ensuring cleanliness, purity, safety and high quality in each grain of rice to consumers. We always take the motto “Consumer health” as a premise for rice production, and thanks to this core motto, the company has achieved many successes up to now. PVMachino is also very proud to be the leading rice supplier to the African market.

The implementation of rice quality testing has helped the company improve its position and brand in the market. Since then, rice branded PVMachino has been chosen by consumers to make food for family and friends. At the same time, rice quality testing is the bridge that helps the company confirm the reputation of the product before exporting or selling it at any places.

The need to import rice in Africa is becoming more and more urgent because this is a difficult area in terms of both economic and social issues.