Cambodia Targets Philippine Market to Boost Rice Exports

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Dec.4, 2025) — Cambodia is advancing efforts to secure a new rice export market in the Philippines, following high-level discussions between the Ministry of Agriculture and a visiting Philippine business delegation led by Food Terminal Incorporated President and CEO Joseph Rudolf Lo.

The meeting, coordinated by both countries’ agriculture ministries, focused on the possibility of the Philippines purchasing rice directly from Cambodia to supply its domestic market. Officials said the initiative aims to expand opportunities for Cambodian farmers while strengthening agricultural trade cooperation between the two nations.

To accelerate progress, the Ministry of Agriculture facilitated direct negotiations between the Philippine delegation and the Cambodia Rice Federation, allowing both sides to examine export possibilities in detail and move toward a potential purchase agreement.

Officials said the new trade linkage would create mutual benefits: the Philippines would gain access to a stable source of high-quality Cambodian rice, while Cambodia would secure another international market to support its growing export sector.

The ministry noted that opening this additional market would help Cambodian rice mills increase paddy collection from local farmers, creating broader and more reliable sales channels.

Looking ahead, the ministry continues to encourage farmers to join modern agricultural communities to improve production resilience. Support measures include low-interest loans, reduced production costs and wider adoption of contract farming to protect farmers from price volatility.

According to the Cambodia Rice Federation, Cambodia exported 420,572 tons of milled rice to 65 countries in the first seven months of 2025, earning $309.32 million. Over the same period, the country also exported 3,873,078 tons of paddy, generating an estimated $914.21 million.