Rice exports up 3.7 percent in first six months of the year

08 Jul 2019 2048 | Business & Trade Fairs

Cambodia exported 281,538 tonnes of milled rice during the first half of the year, an increase of 3.7 percent compared to the same period last year.

A recent report from the Ministry of Agriculture shows that, from January to June, 75 local exporters sent milled rice to 47 countries.

China continues to be Cambodia’s biggest market for rice, absorbing 118,401 tonnes, 42 percent of all exports. France came in at number two, buying 37,515 tonnes.

By region, the EU was the largest buyer with 93,503 tonnes, or 33.21 percent of all exports.

The report also mentions that five countries in Asean imported Cambodian rice – Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand – with Malaysia being the biggest buyer (13.936 tonnes or 12.78 percent of all exports).

Amru Rice, one of the largest exporters in the country, sold 23,529 tonnes of rice abroad during the six-month period. Its CEO, Song Saran, told Khmer Times that rice exports are growing and that companies must aim to diversify their markets to sustain this growth.

“We are now diversifying markets. The government and the Cambodia Rice Federation are working to produce premium rice to boost exports,” Mr Saran said.

“We must increase the production of fragrant rice because it has great quality and demand for it in China is high.”