ANN/THE PHNOM PENH POST – Cambodia’s rice export market continued to post strong growth, with milled rice shipments surpassing 800,000 tonnes in the first 11 months of 2025 and generating more than USD526 million in revenue. When combined with paddy rice exports, the sector earned over USD1.9 billion during the period.
Industry stakeholders remain optimistic that the long-standing national target of exporting one million tonnes of rice annually, set over a decade ago by former Prime Minister Hun Sen, could be reached this year or in 2026.
According to the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), the country exported 801,643 tonnes of rice worth USD526.47 million from January to November 2025. This compares with 575,562 tonnes valued at USD413.9 million in the same period in 2024. Exports were shipped to 72 markets through 65 exporting companies.
The main export destinations were Europe (26 countries): 307,630 tonnes, worth USD236.54 million, China and its autonomous regions: 188,189 tonnes, worth USD116.53 million, ASEAN (eight countries): 218,313 tonnes, worth USD93.5 million, and 34 other countries, with 87,511 tonnes, worth USD79.9 million. Fragrant rice made up the largest sector, at 65.15 per cent, white rice was 14.79 per cent, parboiled rice, 2.07 per cent, organic rice 1.46 per cent, broken rice 16.07 per cent and others, 0.46 per cent.
In the same period, Cambodia exported 6,097,013 tonnes of paddy rice, generating USD1.408 billion. During the same period the previous year, the totals were USD6,642,511 tonnes and USD1.37873 billion.
CRF president Lay Chhun Hour told The Post on that the 800,000 tonne total marks the largest rice-export volume in Cambodia’s history. From 2008 to 2024, Cambodia’s annual milled rice exports ranged from more than 300,000 to 600,000 tonnes, and in the last seven to eight years, exports stayed between 600,000-650,000 tonnes.
“In 2025, we expect rice exports to reach between 900,000 and one million tonnes. The million-tonne target is what the Cambodian government set 10 years ago,” he said.
According to Hour, in the past decade, rice milling facilities in Cambodia have received increasing government support to enhance international competitiveness. Government interventions include tax exemptions, export facilitation, financial support through rural and agricultural development banks, improvements in irrigation infrastructure and the strengthening of cultivation and seed systems.
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Dith Tina met with a delegation from the Philippines company Food Terminal Incorporated, led by company president and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Rudolf Lo, to explore the possibility of sourcing rice directly from Cambodia for the Philippine market.
Tina believed the new agricultural trade link could bring mutual benefits. The Philippines would secure a high-quality rice supply, while Cambodia would gain a new international market.
“Opening this new rice market will also enable the ministry’s partner rice mills to purchase more paddy rice from our farmers, and at a wider scale,” he said.
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