Vietnamese conglomerate to invest US$120m in Liberian rice farming

Uniland becomes the first major investor from Vietnam to enter West Africa

Uniland Group is to invest US$120m in rice farming in Liberia – becoming the first major investor from Vietnam to enter West Africa. The project will deploy advanced Vietnamese agricultural technology to boost production and curb the West African republic’s heavy reliance on imports.

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A 50-hectare pilot project in the north central Bong County has been identified to test the performance of Vietnamese rice varieties in Liberia. With the first crop expected by May, the company plans to subsequently scale operations across five counties and construct two modern rice mills with a combined annual capacity of 50,000 tonnes. The Ho Chi Minh-based Uniland Groups is led by Le Van Trung whose interests span real estate, construction, logistics, and agriculture. It is under his leadership that the group has made a strategic shift toward massive agricultural investments in Africa.

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Rice is the primary staple for Liberia’s population of about 5.8m. With annual per capita consumption estimated at 133kg – one of the highest rates in Africa – the grain accounts for nearly half of adult caloric intake and roughly 15% of average household expenditure. Yet domestic supply meets only a third of demand. Liberia needs about 650,000 tonnes of rice a year but produces just 240,000, leaving a gap of more than 400,000 tonnes. Bridging this shortfall costs the country roughly US$200m annually in imports. Local production has long been held back by outdated farming methods, a lack of modern tools, and chronic underinvestment.

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Africa has become an increasingly important destination for rice from Vietnam, the world’s second-largest exporter. In 2023, shipments to the continent reached 1.3m tonnes, valued at US$788m. Authorities in Hanoi have encouraged exporters to target the region, particularly following demand disruptions in traditional markets such as the Philippines and Indonesia. In the first eight months of 2025, Ghana imported 662,000 tonnes of Vietnamese rice worth US$373m, up 95% year-on-year. Meanwhile, Côte d’Ivoire imported 754,000 tonnes valued at US$349m, a rise of 156%.