Cambodia surpasses long-awaited ambitious ‘one-million-tonne rice export’ goal

Cambodia surpasses long-awaited ambitious ‘one-million-tonne rice export’ goal

Prime Minister Hun Manet congratulates the country on the monumental achievement, hailing it as a moment of national pride as the Kingdom’s official rice exports surge to a record 1.01 million tonnes.

Cambodia has surpassed its long-standing target of exporting one million tonnes of milled rice annually, marking a major milestone in the Kingdom’s efforts to strengthen its agricultural processing industry and expand its presence in international markets.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) announced that Cambodia exported 1.014 million tonnes of milled rice as of October 19, exceeding the target established under the government’s rice export policy in 2010.

The achievement reflected the continued importance of rice production and exports to Cambodia’s agricultural economy, while Cambodia is working to strengthen its position in international rice markets.

Prime Minister Hun Manet hailed the achievement, describing it as a moment of national pride.

“The official volume of Cambodia’s rice exports jumped to 1.01 million tonnes, successfully breaking last year’s record and a remarkable achievement for the nation and the agricultural sector as a whole,” he wrote in a Facebook post yesterday.

In 2010, Cambodia set a target of exporting one million tonnes of rice by 2015, but this commitment went unmet due to limited milling capacity, inadequate warehousing and drying facilities, and insufficient financing

At the time, most of Cambodia’s surplus paddy was sold to neighbouring countries for processing, reducing domestic value-added activity, employment opportunities, and export revenue.

Lay Chhun Hour, president of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), said access to financing, improved storage and drying facilities, and lower operating costs were essential to further strengthening the country’s rice export industry.

“The milestone reflects a gradual transformation of Cambodia’s rice industry, driven by investment in processing, government-backed financing, market diversification and growing international recognition of Cambodian rice,” he told Khmer Times.

He said MAFF had played a central role in supporting agricultural production, improving rice quality and strengthening links between farmers, millers and export markets.

The Ministry of Commerce has also worked with the private sector to promote Cambodian rice overseas, expand market access and diversify export destinations, he stated.

As financing remains a major challenge for the sector, Chhun Hour said financial support from the Ministry of Economy and Finance through the state-run Agriculture and Rural Development Bank had been crucial in helping Cambodian rice exporters purchase paddy, process rice and fulfil international orders.

“With government policy support and private-sector cooperation, together with the quality of Cambodian rice, more international buyers are placing orders for Cambodian rice, enabling the Kingdom to reach this historic milestone,” he said.

Cambodia produces a wide range of rice varieties, including premium fragrant rice, Cambodian Jasmine Rice, long-grain white rice and brown rice.

The Kingdom’s signature Phka Rumduol variety, marketed internationally under the premium brand Malys Angkor, has won the prestigious World’s Best Rice award seven times, most recently in November 2025 in Phnom Penh.

According to the CRF, premium fragrant rice and white rice remain the country’s principal export varieties as Cambodia continues to strengthen its position in the global rice market.

Europe, China and ASEAN remain important markets for Cambodian rice, while growing commercial ties with the Philippines are creating additional opportunities for export expansion.

Recently, a Cambodian exporter signed rice contracts with a Philippine company. The company has also begun shipping rice directly to the Philippines by vessel from Kampot Port, a development expected to facilitate larger shipments and improve logistical efficiency.

The official rice export exceeding one million tonnes is an achievement resulting from the collective efforts of the government, farmers, agricultural communities, rice mills, exporters, and all partners, Amru Rice Cambodia CEO Song Saran said.

“Our next mission is to increase the export value per tonne, expand the value-added market, and ensure that this growth benefits farmers even more,” he said.

Cambodia has approximately 3.4 million hectares of land dedicated to rice cultivation, accounting for roughly 75% of the country’s total agricultural land.

In 2025, Cambodia produced around 15 million tonnes of paddy rice, providing a substantial supply base for domestic consumption, processing and export.

Chhun Hour stressed that the one-million-tonne export target was not merely a one-year objective but part of a broader effort to ensure long-term sustainability and stability in the rice industry.

He said the federation will continue working to expand warehouse and drying facilities to help millers and exporters purchase more paddy from farmers, citing the commitment to turn Cambodia as one of the largest rice exporters on the international stage.

Despite the record achievement, climate change, increasingly uncertain weather conditions and fluctuating costs of agricultural inputs such as fertiliser, fuel, electricity remain major concerns for Cambodia’s rice industry.

CRF has warned that unusually dry conditions associated with El Niño could affect planting schedules, harvests and paddy supplies.

In 2025, Cambodia had exported 940,321 tonnes of milled rice, reaching close to the ambitious goal, earning approximately $602 million, according to figures from the CRF.

khmertimeskh