The Kingdom exported 426,073 tonnes of rice to international markets in the first seven months of this year. Heng Chivoan
Cambodia exported more than 420,000 tonnes of rice to international markets in the first seven months of 2020, an increase of more than 38 per cent compared to the same period in 2019, a Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries report said.
Released on Friday, it said rice exports from Cambodia which passed phytosanitary inspections in the first seven months of 2020 reached 426,073 tonnes, an increase of 118,060 tonnes, equivalent to 38.33 per cent compared to 308,013 recorded in the first seven months of 2019.
Jasmine and fragrant rice accounted for 339,674 tonnes, equivalent to 79.72 per cent of total rice exports, while white long-grain rice accounted for 80,739 tonnes (18.95 per cent). Long-grain parboiled rice accounted for 5,637 tonnes (1.32 per cent) and red rice 23 tonnes (0.01 per cent).
China remains the largest market for Cambodian rice with 155,327 tonnes imported, equivalent to 36.46 per cent of Cambodia’s total rice exports.
European markets imported 144,247 tonnes (33.85 per cent), ASEAN regions imported 57,064 tonnes (13.39 per cent) and other destinations accounted for 69,435 tonnes (16.3 per cent).
Agriculture Minister Veng Sakhon said 57 countries have ordered rice from Cambodia in the past seven months, including 24 from the EU, China and six ASEAN members.
“Cambodia’s rice exports in the first seven months of the year compared to 2019 increased in all export destinations. The European Union increased by 37.7 per cent and China by 25.91 per cent.
ASEAN increased by 44.03 per cent and other destinations by 72.40 per cent,” Sakhon said.
He said Cambodia also exported more than 1.115 million tonnes of paddy rice through the border provinces to Vietnam in the first seven months of 2020.
The report said in July 2020, rice exports reached 28,413 tonnes – up 7.32 per cent from 26,475 tonnes in July 2019.
Royal Academy of Cambodia economics researcher Hong Vanak told The Post on Sunday that Cambodia has a high potential for agriculture, so if there is good cooperation from all stakeholders in public and private sectors it will continue to grow further.
“As long as the team and all stakeholders work well together and have a good investment climate like now, I think the government’s target of exporting one million tonnes of rice to the international market could be achieved soon,” he said.
In 2019, Cambodia exported 620,106 tonnes of rice to international markets, down 0.97 per cent from 2018’s 626,225 tonnes, ministry data said.
