City Rice Injected $70 Million into Cambodian Farm Economy as Exports Rebounded in 2025

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Jan. 5, 2026) — City Rice Import Export Co., Ltd. said it spent about US$70 million in 2025 to purchase paddy rice from Cambodian farmers, injecting fresh capital into rural communities as export markets showed signs of recovery.

Company owner Lay Chhun Hour said City Rice procured roughly 350,000 tonnes of wet paddy rice nationwide last year, marking one of its largest annual purchases in recent years.

He said demand rebounded strongly in China after two years of decline, while exports also grew in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada. European markets recorded noticeable increases as well. “These improvements in demand allowed us to expand procurement and support farmers at a larger scale,” Chhun Hour said.

Cambodia’s rice sector had faced challenges since the pandemic, with global inflation and geopolitical tensions slowing trade. Industry observers said renewed demand in 2025 offered relief to farmers and exporters, helping stabilize prices and restore confidence in the market.

Looking ahead, City Rice plans to expand shipments to Canada and the United States and is exploring entry into the Philippine market if demand conditions remain favorable.