In 2025, Cambodia exported 940,321 tonnes of milled rice worth $602.41 million, an increase on the previous year. However, stronger infrastructure and lower transportation costs will further boost the sector, according to an expert

Chhorn Raksmey

In 2025, Cambodia exported 940,321 tonnes of milled rice worth $ 602.41 million, according to data from Cambodian Rice Federation (CRF).

In total, Cambodian milled-rice exports increased by 45.59 percent and paddy-rice exports increased 32.43 percent in 2025 compared to 2024.

It added that Cambodia exported rice through 68 rice exporting companies to 75 destinations, of which 339,417 tonnes were exported to 28 European countries, worth $ 258.28 million.

The main exports were to China, Hong Kong, eight ASEAN countries and other destinations in Africa, the Middle East, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Many varieties of Cambodian milled rice were exported, including fragrant rice at 64.02 percent, white rice at 13.71 percent, parboiled rice at two percent, organic rice at 1.32 percent, broken rice at 18.56 percent and other types making up the remaining 0.39 percent.

Lun Yeng, Secretary-General of CRF, told Kiripost that fragrant rice has more demand for exports than other varieties.

He added that approximately 80 percent is exported to European countries, Malaysia, Brunei and China. Recent demand for fragrant milled rice to the US has also been noted.

Yeng underlined that​ transportation and electricity costs, if compared to neighbouring countries, are high. “It is different because their infrastructure is different from ours,” he stated, however, adding improvements have been made in recent years.

He hopes that transportation costs will decrease when Cambodia completes the construction of the Funan Techo Canal.

“It is possible to know that some types of rice can be shipped directly to regional countries, such as China, the Philippines and others. However, we are currently unable to ship it because we have to go through Vietnam first and there are a lot of documents involved,” Yeng explained.

Published Date: January 8, 2026