INTERVIEW: Cambodia on track to top 1 mil mt rice exports in 2026; Philippines key growth market

Cambodia remains on track to export more than 1 million mt of milled rice in 2026, supported by stable paddy production, stronger coordination across the rice value chain and expanding market opportunities in Southeast Asia, while the Philippines is emerging as one of the country's fastest-growing export destinations, Chan Sokheang, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, in an interview.

Although early-season weather conditions linked to El Niño have affected some growing areas, Cambodia expects paddy production to remain broadly in line with the previous year's levels, providing sufficient supplies to support exports, Sokheang said.

According to the US Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service, Cambodia's milled rice production in marketing year 2026-27 (January-December) is forecast at 8 million mt, down about 1.2% year over year amid lower harvested acreage and slightly weaker yields.

Cambodia exported 707,471 mt of milled rice in the first seven months of 2026, up 68% year over year, according to the latest data from the Cambodia Rice Federation. In 2025, Cambodia's exports stood at 940,321 mt, according to the data.

The federation also expects Asian rice prices to strengthen over the next two to three months as rising production costs and weather-related uncertainties support the market.

Platts assessed Indian 5% white rice, the cheapest in Asia, at $356/mt FOB Aug. 7, putting it at a discount of $31/mt to Pakistan, $78/mt to Vietnam, $88/mt to Thailand, and $139/mt to Myanmar 5% white rice.

Philippines an important export market

The recent Cambodian rice delegation to the Philippines was primarily a business-to-business (B2B) initiative aimed at strengthening commercial ties between Cambodian exporters and Philippine importers, rather than negotiating government procurement deals, Sokheang said.

The Cambodian delegations met with 35 Philippine rice importers, organized by Cambodia' Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Philippine Department of Agriculture.

The visit did not result in any commitments on future purchase volumes. Sokheang described it as an important step toward building long-term commercial relationships.

"There is no commitment on volumes so far. It is more about follow-up discussions, exchanging market information, and helping Philippine importers better understand Cambodia's rice industry while we also gain a better understanding of market conditions in the Philippines," he said.

Although Cambodia first gained access to the Philippine market about three years ago, exports have remained relatively small, at 2,500-3,500 mt annually.

However, shipments accelerated sharply in 2026, with exports reaching approximately 73,000 mt during the first six months of the year, he said.

Not competing with Vietnam

While Vietnam continues to hold the largest share of the Philippines' rice imports, Sokheang said Cambodia is not attempting to replace Vietnam as the country's primary supplier.

Instead, Cambodia is positioning itself as an additional origin to diversify the Philippines' import sources and strengthen food security.

"Our prices are not as competitive as those of our neighboring countries," he said. "We are not saying we can replace Vietnamese rice in the Philippine market. What Cambodia can offer is another source of supply that supports food security through origin diversification."

Cambodia is also emphasizing its strong production potential.

The country produced around 15 million mt of paddy in 2025, while domestic consumption accounts for only around 5 million-6 million mt, leaving substantial exportable supplies available for overseas markets.

Cambodia is currently introducing three categories of rice to Philippine buyers: premium white rice; mild fragrant rice (SRO); and premium fragrant rice, including SKO and PKM (Phka Rumduol) varieties.

He acknowledged that logistics remain a challenge but said Cambodia would continue working alongside neighboring Vietnam as complementary regional suppliers.

Export strategy focus on select markets

He said the federation is closely monitoring consumer preferences across different regions to better align Cambodia's export strategy with market demand.

"Our strategy is to look at different continents and different consumer preferences so we can target specific rice varieties and products according to each market's needs," Sokheang said.

Europe remains Cambodia's largest premium market. "In the European market, fragrant rice accounts for around 70% of Cambodia's total rice exports," he said.

The US is another market that the federation expects to expand over the coming years. "We have started exporting more Cambodian rice to the US over the past two to three years. It is still an early-stage market, but demand continues to grow," Sokheang said.

He added that the Cambodian community living in the US is helping introduce Cambodian rice to a broader consumer base, creating additional long-term growth opportunities.

Rather than attempting to expand aggressively into numerous destinations simultaneously, the federation intends to develop selected markets one at a time.

Alongside Europe and the US, Cambodia is placing increasing emphasis on Southeast Asia as an important growth region.

Sokheang identified Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Brunei as priority Southeast Asian markets where Cambodia has become increasingly active.

"We can see African markets expanding their rice consumption," he said. "That presents long-term opportunities for Cambodian rice."

He added that Cambodia intends to continue prioritizing fragrant rice exports because higher-value varieties yield higher returns for farmers and help raise incomes across the country's rice sector.

International push for its rice sector

Beyond improving exporters' financial capacity, the CRF is also working to expand milling capacity and strengthen Cambodia's overall rice industry.

The federation continues to work closely with Cambodia's Ministry of Commerce to promote Cambodian rice internationally through trade exhibitions, overseas business delegations, and buyer engagement programs.

Sokheang said Cambodia plans to participate in around six major international trade exhibitions and Forums during the remainder of 2026 to further raise awareness of Cambodian rice among global importers.