Cambodia exported 338,654 tonnes of milled rice in the first six months of 2024, a year-on-year increase of 2.7 percent, the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) said on Tuesday.
The milled rice exports earned the Kingdom a total revenue of $247 million, up 7.8 percent from the same period last year, the report said.
The Kingdom shipped milled rice to 63 countries and regions during the January-June period, the release said.
The country exported 156,789 tonnes of the commodity to 26 countries in the European Union, making revenue of $121 million, said the report, adding that 75,398 tonnes of milled rice was shipped to China, making a gross revenue of $47 million.
Exports to seven ASEAN members hit 74,554 tonnes, worth $51 million, added the release. Among the rice varieties exported include fragrant rice, white rice, parboiled rice and organic rice.
Song Saran, CEO of Amru Rice (Cambodia) and Chairman of CRF Board of Directors, attributed the rise in exports to better-quality seeds farming techniques that increase yield to meet the market demand. “We have to strengthen the food safety system, requiring investment more on technology, processing and packaging to meet market standards,” Saran told Khmer Times.
Meanwhile, the Kingdom earned $727 million in revenue from exporting 2.52 million tonnes of paddy rice to its neighbouring countries during the period.
CRF has set its ambitious goal of exporting a million tons of milled rice by 2025.
With the export strategy focused on market expansion, raising production and storage capacity and elevating rice quality standards, the ambitious target of a million-tonne export is attainable, said CRF President Chan Sokheang.“Our strategic approach addresses key areas that will propel Cambodia’s rice industry to new heights,” he said.
After supplying the domestic market, Cambodia has a paddy surplus of 6.5 million tonnes, meaning Cambodia is capable of exporting more rice.
