The trade office, which is also in charge of Senegal and Tunisia, organised the session as a regular activity to provide market information on potential destinations in Africa.

At the event, Trade Counsellor Hoang Duc Nhuan introduced the markets of Algeria, Senegal and Tunisia, focusing on key export and import items such as agricultural products, seafood, wood products, textiles and garments, footwear, plastic materials and chemicals. He also noted issues related to partner search, transactions and payment, and addressed questions from participating businesses.

For Algeria, Vietnamese goods have advantages due to strong import demand, a population of more than 48 million, and good political relations between the two countries, which were upgraded to a Strategic Partnership last year. In 2025, bilateral trade saw a sharp increase. Coffee is a main export item, accounting for more than 50% of market share with around 70,000 tonnes, generating an average of about US$100 million per year.

Other products such as cashew nuts, desiccated coconut, spices, seafood and some industrial goods also have export potential.

In Senegal, although the market size is about 19 million people, the economy is relatively open, infrastructure is fairly developed, and the country serves as a transit point for goods in the region. Rice is a main export item from Vietnam, with annual import demand of about 900,000 to 1,000,000 tonnes. The presence of Vietnamese and Asian communities supports the entry of products such as dried foods into the market.

Tunisia is a dynamic economy with deep international integration and a location close to Europe. It participates in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and is seen as a gateway to the Africa-Arab market. Each year, Tunisia imports about 30,000 tonnes of raw coffee, 30,000 tonnes of rice and 360,000 tonnes of sugar.

Alongside these opportunities, some markets apply relatively high import tariffs. In Algeria, import duty is about 30%, in addition to VAT of 19%, a 2% withholding tax and a 3% solidarity tax, while safeguard duties may range from 30% to 200% depending on the product.

The trade office advised Vietnamese businesses to seek partners through reliable channels and verify legal documents before transactions. It advised using irrevocable letters of credit with confirmation or documentary collection with deposits of at least 20%, and not accepting deferred payment.

When importing goods, businesses should conduct inspections through reputable international inspection organisations in the exporting country, limit risks with small initial orders, and, where possible, meet partners directly in the early stages.

Businesses were also advised to study consumer preferences in Muslim countries and pay attention to Halal certification requirements for meat-related food products.

Vietnamese firms seek cooperation opportunities in African markets

A hybrid workshop connecting businesses from Vietnam, Algeria, and Senegal was held on October 21 by the Vietnam Trade Office in Algeria, attracting the participation of representatives from around 30 businesses, including several Vietnamese firms already exporting to Algeria and other African countries.

Vietnam-UAE trade deal helps open path to Middle East, African markets: Minister

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