1 Jul 2025
At the 10th anniversary celebration of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), the Kingdom highlighted a decade of strong performance in rice exports, reporting that 6.59 million tonnes (mt) of milled rice have been exported to 123 international markets from 2014 to 2024. This milestone reflects Cambodia's growing influence in the global rice trade, driven by improvements in infrastructure, policy, and market access.
Speaking at the event, Chan Sokheang, President of the CRF, noted that Cambodia’s total rice production nearly doubled from 7.3 mt in 2011 to almost 14 mt in 2024, propelled by investments in irrigation and supporting infrastructure. The federation now includes 301 active members, comprising rice mills, exporters, community groups, and enterprises supporting the rice supply chain. This includes 87 large-scale and 125 medium-sized mills, 56 farmer communities, and 33 auxiliary enterprises.
The expansion of Cambodia’s rice sector has been bolstered by financial support from the Rural and Agricultural Development Bank, which allocated approximately $300 million for rice-related infrastructure—such as mills, storage facilities, and sawmills—offered at competitive interest rates. An additional $70 million has been earmarked for 2024. To further facilitate private sector participation, the Ministry of Economy and Finance has introduced credit guarantees through the Credit Guarantee Corporation, covering $30 million in the first phase and $150 million in the second phase, ensuring improved capital access for rice businesses.
Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul, who attended the ceremony, reaffirmed rice as a strategic commodity for Cambodia. “Rice is essential not only for food security and national nutrition but also as a priority export product,” she stated. The Ministry of Commerce has actively pursued bilateral trade agreements to broaden Cambodia’s export footprint, including a Memorandum of Understanding with China to supply 500,000 tonnes of rice, alongside export deals with Indonesia (37,500 tonnes) and Timor-Leste (4,000 tonnes) through the state-run Green Trade Company.
Minister Nimul also urged Cambodian rice exporters to focus on value-added processing and attracting foreign investment to strengthen the entire rice value chain. “Boosting the sector’s competitiveness globally will not only meet rising domestic demand but will also help elevate Cambodia’s position in international markets,” she emphasized.
In 2024, Cambodia exported 651,522 tonnes of milled rice, generating $491 million in revenue, according to CRF data. While this marks a 0.7% decrease in volume compared to 2023, the value increased by 5.3%, indicating improved pricing and demand for premium varieties.
As Cambodia looks ahead, the country remains committed to enhancing quality, expanding markets, and achieving its long-term goal of exporting one million tonnes of milled rice annually.