Chea Vanyuth / Khmer Times

Synopsis: The export boom reflects the high quality of Cambodian rice alongside better coordination among farmers, exporters, and the government to streamline the supply chain, says an official.

Cambodia’s milled rice exports surged 67.5 percent year-on-year to 792,212 tonnes in the first eight months of 2026, up from 472,803 tonnes during the same period last year, according to a report released by the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) yesterday.

The exports generated $464 million in revenue, a 33 percent increase from the $348 million recorded during the first eight months of 2025.

The CRF said 61 companies exported Cambodian milled rice to 66 countries and regions during the period.

The European Union imported 232,319 tonnes, accounting for 29.3 percent of Cambodia’s total milled rice exports. China and its autonomous regions purchased 177,783 tonnes, or 22.4 percent.

Meanwhile, 315,088 tonnes were shipped to five ASEAN member states, while the remaining 67,022 tonnes went to 25 destinations in Africa, the Middle East and other markets.

The CRF said the substantial increase in export volume reflected the competitive quality of Cambodian rice and improved coordination among farmers, exporters and government authorities to streamline supply chains.

Speaking to Khmer Times, CRF President Lay Chhun Hour said, “The increase in exports is due to the availability of ample domestic rice stocks, while demand in the markets is growing strongly.”

The government has set a target of exporting 1 million tonnes of milled rice annually. The CRF said the target could be achieved or even exceeded through stronger cooperation among relevant institutions and the federation.

“For this year’s exports, with the good performance since early this year, we expect to meet the target,” Lay Chhun Hour said.

Fragrant rice accounted for nearly 58 percent of total exports, followed by long-grain white rice at 24.4 percent and broken rice at nearly 14.3 percent.

Cambodia also earned $753 million from exporting 3.35 million tonnes of paddy rice to Vietnam during the period.

The rice sector requires about $600 million in financing. The state-backed Agricultural and Rural Development Bank has pledged $200 million, with private banks expected to contribute additional funding to help stabilise supply chains and support the country’s 1-million-tonne annual milled rice export target.

Further support from commercial banks, private institutions and domestic investors will be essential to bridge the financing gap.

Published Date: September 8, 2026