Vietnam Export to Africa: A Guide for Manufacturers (2026)

Vietnam is known for garments, footwear, electronics and food, and African importers are paying attention. This guide to Vietnam export to Africa is written for factory owners and export managers who want to sell to African wholesalers and distributors directly, rather than only through traders. It covers what Vietnamese government sources say about the African market, the customs declaration process, certificates of origin, which markets look sensible first, and how to list on Comilmart.

Vietnam export to Africa: the size of the opportunity

Viet Nam News reported on 30 July 2025 that Vietnam's exports to Africa were worth about US$4 billion in 2024, with imports from Africa at US$5.5 billion. The article says Africa has strong demand for agricultural products, food, essential supplies, agricultural machinery and construction materials. You can read the report on Viet Nam News.

An older article on the Vietnam Customs newspaper's English site, citing the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Asian-African Market Department, listed Vietnam's biggest export products to Africa (figures run to 2022) as rice at US$568.6 million, phones and components at US$355.6 million, computers and electronics at US$210.4 million and footwear at US$141.8 million. It named South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria as the main export markets because they are large economies with seaports, and said the ministry saw potential for garments, textiles, footwear, coffee, rice and aquatic products. The article carries no date, so use it for product direction only. It is on the Customs newspaper site.

Where to start: South Africa and the gateway markets

A Vietnam News Agency report dated 3 October 2026 on a Vietnam-South Africa business forum in Cape Town said bilateral trade was US$1.3 billion in 2025 and passed US$1.7 billion in the first seven months of 2026, up 45% year on year. It describes South Africa as Vietnam's largest export market in Africa, and says the Western Cape imports Vietnamese electronics, textiles and garments, footwear, chemicals and medical equipment. The full report is on VietnamPlus.

The same news agency reported on 29 August 2026 that two-way trade with Morocco was about US$380 million in 2025, and that Vietnam's trade office in Morocco advised exporters to invest in brand building, localised packaging and French and Arabic product information. It also noted that the two countries lack a regular direct shipping route and a free trade agreement, and that Morocco has strict standards on food safety, labelling and halal certification. If South Africa is your first target instead, our guide to selling in South Africa as a foreign supplier covers what to prepare.

Vietnam export to Africa: the customs process and certificates

The Ministry of Industry and Trade runs the Vietnam Trade Repository, which describes the export customs declaration procedure. It lists the documents as the customs declaration (electronic or paper), a commercial invoice or equivalent where the buyer pays the seller, an export licence or permit where required, an inspection certificate or exemption notice, and a certificate of eligibility to export under investment law where it applies. The declaration is submitted on the VNACCS system, and the system returns a green, yellow or red channel result: green means clearance after payment of any duties, yellow means documents are checked, and red means documents and cargo are examined. The page cites Circular 39/2018/TT-BTC, so confirm that the current rules still match.

For certificates of origin, Viet Nam News reported on 19 December 2025 that most certificates issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant authorities are now processed on electronic platforms. Your freight forwarder should know which form your African buyer's customs needs. All of this is as of October 2026, so confirm with Vietnam Customs, the issuing authority or your forwarder.

Garments, footwear and electronics: what African buyers check

Price competition is real, so win on clarity. For garments and footwear, publish size charts, fabric composition, carton quantities and colour options per MOQ tier. For electronics and accessories, state voltage, plug type and warranty terms, and remember that buyers worry about heat, dust and unstable power. Check that labels meet the language rules of your target country, as described in labelling and packaging for African markets. For regulated goods, ask each buyer which conformity certificate is needed before production.

Quoting and routes

Quote FOB from your Vietnamese loading port or CIF to the African port, and add lead time and quote validity. Ask your forwarder about direct sailings versus transhipment, because that changes transit time and risk of delay. Our guide on pricing for African buyers shows the landed-cost calculation buyers use, so your quote can answer it up front.

Selling through Comilmart

Comilmart is a B2B and B2C marketplace for Africa. You can create a supplier profile, list products with MOQs and tiered pricing, and respond to open buyer requests from your RFQ board once approved. Buyers can chat live with you and order samples, and buyer protection holds payment until delivery is confirmed within a 7-day window. You arrange and pay for shipping to Africa: Comilmart does not handle freight, customs clearance, duties or delivery, and it cannot promise orders, volumes or prices. For supplier payment methods and currencies, ask through live chat or /contact-us. To compare payment structures first, read how to get paid safely by African buyers.

Frequently asked questions

Which African market is biggest for Vietnamese exporters? According to the Vietnam News Agency report of October 2026, South Africa is Vietnam's largest export market in Africa.

Do Vietnamese exporters need a certificate of origin for Africa? It depends on the buyer's customs requirements and the product. Ask the buyer, then ask your forwarder which form and issuing body apply.

Can a Vietnamese SME apply? Yes. The supplier application is free and any country is accepted.

Will Comilmart find me orders? It gives you a catalogue, an RFQ board and verified profiles. It cannot promise buyers or volumes.

Does Comilmart ship my goods? No, the seller arranges and pays for shipping.

Getting started

To grow Vietnam export to Africa on a verified profile, begin at /sell-to-africa and apply at /apply-manufacturer. The KYS form asks for your company registration number, tax number, a business licence upload, a registration certificate upload, at least two sample product images, your company mission, vision and core values, and at least one B2B category. It is free to apply, a Vietnamese address is accepted, and admin review is stated as taking about 24 to 48 hours. Plans run from Standard at $0 to Verified Pro at $800 per year, with Starter at $99 and Verified at $300 in between.