Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Logistics barrier to rice exports, certifier says

Logistics barrier to rice exports, certifier says

Logistics barrier to rice exports, certifier says

CAMBODIA’S logistics are more expensive than in neighbouring countries, hindering its plans to export 1 million tonnes of milled rice by 2015, according to Saksit Srisuksai, General Director of Intertek Testing Service Company.

Thailand faced similar logsitics challenges years ago, which had since proved surmountable. “At the moment, I believe that the cost of transportation and logistics in [Cambodia] is still higher than in Thailand or Vietnam, even Burma,” he said.

“I believe [Cambodia’s] exports must be less than forecast, because the logistics are not in a good position yet. Other countries can export by large ships,” he said.

He highlighted storage facilities, roads, and vehicles as well as ships as areas that needed improvement.

Intertek is responsible for certifying the quality of much of Cambodia’s rice exports, particularly shipments to Europe, he said yesterday on the sidelines of the Rice Export Service and Market Requirement workshop in Phnom Penh.

Saksit Srisuksai called the rice export target “achievable”. “Cambodia can have good logistics, roads, transportation, and facilities,” he said.

However, Kim Savuth, Director of rice exporter Khmer Food, agreed Cambodia was facing transportation challenges, but added he thought the cost of logistics was not as large a barrier as claimed by some
“I don’t think our logistics cost is higher than Thailand or Vietnam – it is the same right now.

“They [Intertek] are surveyors. They don’t know [the situation] clearly like us exporters.”

His firm has exported 4,700 tonnes of milled rice to Europe during the first two months of the year, from 7,600 tonnes to the continent during all of 2010, he said.

Speaking at the conference yesterday, Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh said the country has strong potential with its rice production, which the government aimed to increase.

“The rice policy is Cambodia wants to become … one of the main rice export countries at the global market,” he said. “Firstly, we better know what the market requires of us.”

Last August, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced a policy to increase rice exports to 1 million tonnes by 2015. Statistics show Cambodia exported just over 100,000 tonnes in 2010.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • 1.4 billion dollar Phnom Penh-Bavet expressway due in four years

    The Government, through the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, has officially signed a public-private partnership agreement with a private company for the construction of a Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway project that will connect the capital to Svay Rieng province. The budget for the project is

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom