Cambodia exported 192,495 tonnes of milled rice in the first four months of this year, representing a 107,757-tonne or 35.89-per-cent drop from the 300,252 tonnes posted in January-April 2020, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Fragrant rice accounted for 130,120 tonnes of the exports, or 67.60 per cent, white long-grain rice reached for 59,026 tonnes (30.66 per cent) and long-grain parboiled rice weighed in at 3,349 tonnes (1.74 per cent).

The ministry estimated the value of the exports at nearly $161.7 million.

China remained the largest market for the grain with 104,756 tonnes imported, equivalent to 54.42 per cent of Cambodia's total milled-rice exports.

EU nations imported 42,850 tonnes (22.26 per cent), ASEAN countries purchased 17,483 tonnes (9.08 per cent) and 18 other markets bought 27,406 tonnes (14.24 per cent).

Meanwhile, paddy rice exports to Vietnam reached 1,529,280 tonnes estimated to be worth $221.29 million in January-April, increasing by 73.15 per cent in volume compared to the 883,232 tonnes booked in the same period in 2020.

The Cambodia Rice Federation ascribed the drop in rice exports to a shortage of containers and other barriers to export, especially to target EU markets.

According to the federation, rice storage and shipping costs have risen five-fold over the past five years.

Last year, the Kingdom exported 690,829 tonnes of milled rice worth nearly $539 million, marking an 11.40 per cent surge in volume from 2019, according to the ministry's statistics.