PHNOM PENH, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's milled rice exports have hit the 1-million-ton milestone for the first time in history, driven by robust regional demand and favorable trade pacts.
Official data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) released Tuesday revealed the kingdom exported 1.01 million tons of milled rice from January to Oct. 19, 2026. This surge successfully surpasses the 940,000 tons exported during the entirety of 2025, fulfilling a national strategic target originally established in 2010.
"Now, we have officially broken the historical record for rice exports," MAFF Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson Khim Finan said in a statement shared with the media. "This stands as a brilliant achievement for the nation and the entire agricultural sector."
Thong Mengdavid, deputy director of the China-ASEAN Studies Center at the Cambodia University of Technology and Science, said that the milestone marks a structural shift for the country, signaling Cambodia's evolution from a raw paddy producer into a highly competitive, high-value agro-exporter on the global stage.
He attributed the growth largely to strong consumer preferences and expanded logistics networks, noting that China remains a major consumer of Cambodia's fragrant and premium rice varieties.
"Crucially, trade architecture like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement has provided a powerful catalyst," Mengdavid told Xinhua. "By drastically cutting trade barriers, streamlining customs rules, and granting preferential tariff access, these FTAs effectively lower transaction costs for Cambodian exporters while enhancing brand visibility across Chinese and regional supply chains."
According to the Cambodia Rice Federation, the nation's primary export varieties consist of premium fragrant rice and white rice, with major shipments heading toward the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the European Union and China. ■
