Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - China Cambodia’s largest milled-rice buyer in 5 months with 52.69% share

China Cambodia’s largest milled-rice buyer in 5 months with 52.69% share

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
The Kingdom exported 283,675 tonnes of milled rice in January-May, 52.69 per cent of which went to China. Heng Chivoan

China Cambodia’s largest milled-rice buyer in 5 months with 52.69% share

China has topped the list of buyers of Cambodian milled rice for the first five months of 2022, accounting for more than half of the Kingdom’s total exports of the commodity, which has seen a nearly 22 per cent year-on-year surge overall.

A report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries showed that from January to May, Cambodia’s milled rice exports to foreign markets reached 283,675 tonnes, an increase of 21.73 per cent year-on-year. Of that, in May alone, milled rice exports reached 62,537 tonnes, a surge of 54.28 per cent compared to that of the same time last year.

The report stated that the Chinese market bought up the most Cambodian milled rice at 149,477 tonnes, representing a 52.68 per cent year-on-year increase.

European exports reached 81,931 tonnes, rising by 28.88 per cent year-on-year, while ASEAN countries took in 25,691 tonnes, an increase of 9.06 per cent. Other destinations accounted for 26,606 tonnes, up by 9.38 per cent.

Exported milled rice varieties included fragrant milled rice (18,412 tonnes) in a 64.9 per cent year-on-year rise, long grain milled rice (95,539 tonnes), with a 33.68 per cent gain, and long grain parboiled rice (4,024 tonnes), representing a modest rise of 1.42 per cent.

Cambodia Rice Federation secretary-general Lun Yeng told The Post that the increase in milled rice exports was due to the January end of EU tariffs that had been imposed in 2019 as part of “safeguarding measures” aimed at protecting European rice producers.

He added that the market has begun returning to pre-tariff levels, with orders from China remaining steady and accounting for more than 50 per cent of total exports from Cambodia.

However, he noted that the export market largely favours fragrant rice, “which has the lowest profit margins, and is not as important as white rice. The price of fragrant rice has only increased by about 10 per cent due to the latest export being mostly white rice”, he said.

Hong Vanak, director of International Economics at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, highlighted that global food demand could be an opportunity for Cambodia to increase paddy rice production productivity and maximise milled rice exports.

“According to the [agriculture ministry] report, we see that … most of the ordering countries have demand for fragrant milled rice. Therefore, the ministry, as well as stakeholders, should establish an appropriate policy to promote the cultivation of paddy rice for the production of fragrant milled rice,” Vanak said.

“They should figure out how to turn Cambodian agricultural products from largely domestic use to a high-value export.”

MOST VIEWED

  • Ministry orders all schools, public and private, to close for SEA Games

    From April 20 to May 18, all public and private educational institutions will be closed to maintain order and support Cambodia's hosting of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, said a directive from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Cambodia will host the

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to

  • Angkor Beer strengthens national pride with golden new look and fresher taste

    Angkor Beer – the "Gold of Angkor" – has a new look, one that is more stylish and carries a premium appeal, as well as a fresher taste and smoother flavour, making it the perfect choice for any gathering. Angkor Beer recently launched its new design, one

  • PM urges end to ‘baseless’ international Ream base accusations

    Prime Minister Hun Sen urges an end to “baseless” foreign accusations surrounding the development of the Kingdom’s Ream Naval Base, as the US has consistently suggested that the base is being expanded to accommodate a Chinese military presence. Hun Sen renewed his calls while

  • Khmer ballet documentary debuts April 1

    A new documentary, The Perfect Motion, or Tep Hattha in Khmer, will premiere to the public on April 1. The documentary film follows two intertwined storylines: the creation of a show called Metamorphosis by the late Princess Norodom Buppha Devi (her very last production) and the

  • Water supply authority assures public shortages over early ‘24

    The Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) asked for understanding from Phnom Penh residents in some communes where water pressure is weak. They assured residents that all supply issues will be resolved by early 2024, but have suggested that residents use water sparingly in the meantime.