Cambodia exported 536,305 tonnes of milled rice to 60 countries in the first 10 months of this year, up more than 17.11 per cent from 457,940 tonnes in the same period last year.

The exports were worth about $367 million, according to Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) secretary-general Lun Yeng.

China topped the list of destination markets for Cambodian milled rice with 194,451 tonnes imported, accounting for a 36.26 per cent market share, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon said on Saturday.

Exports to the EU, ASEAN countries and other destinations reached 174,391 tonnes, 71,782 tonnes and 95,581 tonnes, accounting for 32.51, 13.40 and 17.83 per cent of total milled-rice exports for the period, he said.

Broken down by category, jasmine and fragrant rice accounted for 421,322 tonnes, while white long-grain rice accounted for 109,012 tonnes, he said. Long-grain parboiled rice accounted for 6,138 tonnes.

Last month alone, the Kingdom exported 47,530 tonnes, down 19.92 per cent from 59,354 tonnes in October last year, he added.

CRF’s Yeng pointed out that last month’s exports were worth around $38.9 million.

CRF chairman Hun Lak told The Post that last month’s dip in milled-rice exports was largely due to the flash floods and resulting disruptions of logistics and transportation chains.

With the floods largely receded, he voiced his confidence that exports would pick up soon.

“Export volumes will enjoy a noticeable recovery in December and January 2021, with China remaining a potential market for Cambodia,” Lak said.

He noted that authorities and farmers have begun to plant paddy in flood-ravaged fields.

Last year, the Kingdom exported 620,106 tonnes of rice to international markets, down 0.97 per cent from 626,225 tonnes in 2018, ministry data showed.