PHNOM PENH: Agencies in Cambodia announced on Wednesday that the country’s rice exports have increased more than fivefold over the past five years. A joint statement released by the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, and the Cambodia Rice Federation, said “Cambodia’s formal milled rice exports have significantly increased in the last five years, from approximately 100,000 metric tonnes in 2010 to 530,000 metric tonnes in 2015.”
The growth figures come despite the country announcing in December that it would fail to meet an ambitious target of exporting 1 million tonnes of milled rice in 2015. In the first two months of 2016, the country exported almost 96,000 tonnes of milled rice, showing potential for a further increase.
Sok Puthyvuth, president of CRF, said since 2010 the Cambodian rice industry has developed rapidly and, in order to improve global market accessibility, Cambodia has developed its international rice standards and that progress has helped the country achieve international acclaim, winning the World’s Best Rice award for three consecutive years from 2012. The award is handed out at a rice trade conference each year.
“Rice production, processing and marketing are estimated to employ more than 20% of the Cambodian population, further proving the sector’s positive impact on job creation and income growth,” said Kyle Kelhofer, IFC country manager for Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. To date, IFC has directly facilitated more than $140 million worth of Cambodian rice exports, of which more than 50% account for high-value fragrant rice.
Cambodia’s rice exports are subject to stringent inspection and certification requirements to give them access to key markets such as the European Union, China and the United States, according to the CRF. Cambodia grows different types of rice, divided into two main types — fragrant rice and white rice. The CRF’s membership consists of some 79 rice millers from across the country.
