Cambodia’s rice exports rise 68% as 1-million-tonne milestone comes into reach

Shipments reach 707,471 tonnes

Cambodia exported 707,471 tonnes of rice during the first seven months of 2026, an increase of 68% from the same period a year earlier, according to a Cambodia Rice Federation report cited by Xinhua and Malaysia’s RTM. The January-July performance puts the country within reach of an annual export volume that has never previously been recorded.

Export revenue reached $415.1 million over the seven-month period, rising 34.3% year on year. The gap between the growth rates for volume and revenue indicates that average revenue per exported tonne was lower than in the comparable period of 2025, even as total receipts increased substantially.

The federation’s president, Lay Chhun Hour, said the strong performance through July gave the industry confidence that it could meet the government’s target of exporting 1 million tonnes in 2026. Crossing that threshold would mark the first time Cambodia’s annual rice exports have exceeded 1 million tonnes.

Premium fragrant rice leads the product mix

Premium fragrant rice represented 59.2% of Cambodia’s exports in January-July, maintaining its position as the dominant category. White rice accounted for 23.6%, while broken rice contributed 13.7%. Parboiled and organic rice together made up the remaining 3.5%.

The product mix matters for exporters because fragrant rice occupies the largest share of Cambodia’s international rice business. At the same time, the presence of white and broken rice gives suppliers access to buyers with different quality specifications, processing requirements and price points.

Applying the reported shares to total shipments, premium fragrant rice accounted for roughly three-fifths of the 707,471 tonnes exported. The figures also show that more than one-third of shipments consisted of other rice categories, providing some diversification beyond Cambodia’s best-known premium varieties.

Sixty-one companies serve 66 markets

A total of 61 companies exported Cambodian rice to 66 countries and regions between January and July. ASEAN, China and the European Union remained the principal destination markets, according to the Cambodia Rice Federation.

This geographic reach spreads sales across regional and long-distance markets. ASEAN offers nearby demand, while China and the European Union provide large destination markets for Cambodian suppliers. The federation did not disclose shipment volumes or revenue for each destination in the cited report, so their individual contributions to the overall increase cannot be determined.

The participation of 61 exporters also shows that the expansion is being handled by a broad group of companies rather than a single supplier. For millers, processors and traders, continued growth will depend on maintaining sufficient export-ready supply and meeting the quality requirements of buyers across all three major market groups.

Final five months will determine the record

Cambodia needs to export a further 292,529 tonnes after July to reach the 1-million-tonne target. That is an average of about 58,506 tonnes per month from August through December. The required monthly pace is well below the average of about 101,067 tonnes achieved during the first seven months.

The arithmetic supports the federation’s confidence, although the final result will still depend on shipments being completed during the remainder of the year. If the target is reached, 2026 will establish a new benchmark for Cambodia’s rice sector and expand the volume available to its main buyers in ASEAN, China and the European Union.