THE Cambodian Rice Millers Association missed its deadline for delivery of a shipment of jasmine rice to Hong Kong that had been billed as a milestone for the sector’s export hopes, the organisation’s president said Thursday.

Phou Puy said the plan to export 400 tonnes of the rice variety to the Chinese territory in September and October failed, as the milling equipment necessary to process it was not delivered in time.

Phou Puy announced the contract in July this year, saying the association would receive US$790 per tonne for the rice.

Phou Puy said Thursday he expected to be able to renegotiate the supply agreement and begin exporting rice as soon as the equipment was in place.

The $7.8 million milling machine is due to arrive this month and is expected to be ready for operation in December, he added.

“We will start our supply of rice to Hong Kong at the end of this year because the miller will be completely ready by then,” he said.

The machine is to be set up in Battambang province.