Hanoi (VNA) – Algeria is apotential market for exports of Vietnamese staples, especially coffee and rice,official statistics show.

Vietnam’s export revenues to Algeria enjoyeda year-on-year increase of 2.1 percent in the first two months of 2020. Accordingto the Trade Office of Vietnam in Algeria, Vietnam may bolster coffee shipmentsto the Algerian market as it is the most popular drink of local people.

The African country spends 300 million USDon the import of about 130,000 tonnes of coffee beans each year.

Coffee has been among leading export itemsof Vietnam to Algeria over the years, accounting for the lion’s share of over50 percent in the Algerian market. Vietnam shipped about 70,000 tonnes of theproduct to the African nation last year.

Rice also holds huge potential for export inthe coming time when the COVID-19 is repelled. Algeria mostly depends on riceimports, buying about 100,000 tonnes of the grain annually. In addition, thecountry’s import tariffs for the food are lower compared to those of others.

In 2019, Vietnam shipped nearly 17,000tonnes of rice to Algeria, making up for around 16 percent. The increasingnumber of Asian workers in Algeria has also prompted a surge in rice demand inthe country./.