Cambodia's Rice Exports to Philippines Surge: Over 122,000 Tons in First 8 Months of 2026, New Shipping Method Boosts Trade

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, H.E. Dith Tina, has highlighted that Cambodia exported 122,102 tons of rice to the Philippines during the first eight months of 2026. This figure represents over 15.4% of Cambodia's total rice exports of 792,212 tons for the same period. The Minister made these remarks during the official inauguration ceremony of "10,000 tons of rice transportation by bulk carrier" between City Rice Company and Dilai Trading, aimed at direct export from the Kingdom of Cambodia to the Republic of the Philippines. The event took place on the morning of September 16, 2026, at the Autonomous Port of Sihanoukville. H.E. Dith Tina further stated, based on information from the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), that an additional 87,344 tons of rice are contracted for export to the Philippines from September to December 2026. This projection would bring the total rice exports to the Philippines in 2026 to approximately 209,446 tons. This marks a significant increase of over 34 times compared to 2025, serving as a crucial catalyst for Cambodia's overall rice exports to surpass the 1 million ton mark in 2026, a new record after achieving 940,321 tons in 2025. The Minister affirmed that this achievement stems from close cooperation with H.E. Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., the Secretary of Agriculture of the Philippines, along with the private sector and other relevant government institutions, particularly the facilitation of Business-to-Business (B2B) matchmaking forums. Concurrently, H.E. Dith Tina emphasized that the launch of the 10,000-ton shipment via the new bulk carrier method by City Rice and Dilai Trading will contribute to efforts to promote direct rice exports to the Philippine market. The bulk carrier method allows for the transportation of rice without the need for containers, by loading bagged rice directly into the ship's hold. This approach helps reduce transportation costs and time, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Cambodia's rice sector. "This is a new beginning for Cambodia's rice sector. Transportation via bulk carrier will further increase our waterborne rice export capacity in addition to containerized shipping. This method enhances efficiency, boosts the competitiveness of Cambodian rice in the international market, reduces transportation costs and time, and ensures a stable supply of high-quality rice to the Philippine market," the Minister asserted. During the event, the Minister also noted that the collaborative efforts between state institutions and the private sector are a strong pillar in opening international markets and driving the Cambodian agricultural sector towards greater growth and continuous record-breaking achievements in the future.