The Vietnam Cashew Association (Vinacas) has warned its members after the Vietnam Trade Office in Algeria issued a scam alert when exporting to Algeria.
Raw cashew nuts are dried in Binh Phuoc.
Talking to Tuoi Tre Online on April 19, Mr. Bach Khanh Nhut, Vice Chairman of the Vinacas, confirmed that the association has warned its members after the Vietnam Trade Office in Algeria sent a scam alert when exporting to Algeria.
According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Algeria, in 2022, a Vietnamese company exported five containers of cashew nuts to Algeria through an intermediary located in South Africa.
However, when the goods arrived at Algeria’s port, the customer, Eurl ATS Food Company of Algeria, could not clear customs. This company was previously listed by Algeria’s Ministry of Commerce as a fraudulent commercial enterprise.
ATS Food is said to have lost its legal capacity to carry out procedures such as importing, exchanging businesses to receive goods, or re-exporting goods. According to the regulations, if the goods are at the port within the prescribed time since being unloaded from the ship without a business being eligible to receive the goods, Algerian customs will conduct an auction to raise funds.
Mr. Nhut said that after receiving the information, the Vietnamese enterprise contacted relevant authorities to provide documents proving the legal goods owner. Algerian customs has canceled the public auction.
“The representative of the enterprise was present in Algeria to work with the relevant authorities. Through shipping lines, banks, and documents, etc, if the business can prove that it is the legal owner, the goods will be returned, ” Mr. Nhut said.
Experts noted that cashew nut exporters in particular and agricultural products in general need to carefully check information about markets and customers, especially strange customers from new markets, small markets, or not high legality.
“To avoid risks and scams when exporting, it is necessary to thoroughly understand customers before trading such as requesting to provide copies of business licenses, tax codes, passports with photos of legal representatives of the company, etc, and asking Vietnamese authorities in the host country to verify this information,” said a representative of Vinacas./.