The Secretariat of the Single Window Service has published a report confirming a 6% increase in the export of milled Cambodian rice during the first quarter of 2019.

While the looming threat of the withdrawal of the Everything But Arms (EBA) agreement hangs over Cambodia—set to take effect in about a year and a half—the Kingdom continues to boost the export of its national staple.

China : The leading importer

The export of milled rice during the first three months of this year amounts to 170,821 tons. In 2018, the country exported a total of 630,000 tons. According to the AKP, China remains Cambodia's number one customer. Between January and March, the Chinese purchased 75,214 tons of Khmer rice, well ahead of France with 20,000 tons and Gabon with 12,122 tons.

The Khmer news agency reports that "approximately 89% of the exported rice was fragrant rice, while long-grain white rice and steamed rice represented 9.14% and 1.44%, respectively."

Thibault Bourru