China and Hong Kong have emerged as the top export markets for Cambodian milled rice, covering 42.43 percent of total exports worth $77.42 million. The 25 European countries accounted for 37.93 percent of exports worth $71.99 million, according to Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF).

In a press release issued by CRF on Thursday, four ASEAN member states covered 8.86 percent of total rice exports. The Philippines was a new market for Cambodia, having exported its first-ever significant volume of 2,575 tons in May. The remaining 20 destinations accounted for 10.78 percent of the total exports.

The CRF reported that Cambodia exported 278,184 tons of milled rice and 2,142,483 tons of paddy rice equivalent to approximately 1.37 million tons of milled rice in the first five months of 2023. These exports generated a revenue of about $736.90 million.

Cambodia has set the country’s full-year milled rice export target at 750,000 tons in 2023, rising to one million tons by 2025.

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CRF President Chan Sokheang stated, “The federation will continue to work with the Ministry of Commerce to ensure that annual milled-rice sales to China surpass 400,000 tons each year.”

According to the press release, Cambodia exported 278,184 tons of milled rice worth $191.64 million to 49 destinations through 48 exporters. Exported paddy rice to Vietnam amounted to 2,142,483 tons, equivalent to approximately 1.37 million tons of milled rice, with an estimated value of $545.26 million.

Among all types of rice, 83.49 percent was fragrant rice, 10.87 percent was white rice, 3.71 percent was parboiled rice, and 1.93 percent was organic rice.

According to the Agriculture Ministry, Cambodia exported 617,069 tonnes of milled rice and 3.527 million tonnes of paddy rice last year, earning $527.594 million and $631.408 million respectively.

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seng.mengheng@kiripost.com