Arya News - The Philippines is one of the world`s largest rice importers, with Vietnam and Thailand — both Cambodia`s neighbours — being its largest suppliers.
PHNOM PENH – The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is working to increase exports of Cambodia rice to the Philippines, a move that will provide the Philippines with a source of high-quality rice and establish a new international market for Cambodia.
Agriculture minister Dith Tina met with a delegation from Filipino company Food Terminal Incorporated, according to a December 3 social media post by the minister.
The delegation was led by Joseph Rudolf Lo, president and CEO of the company, and aimed to explore the feasibility of direct rice orders from Cambodia to the Philippines.
Should the effort be successful, it will open additional markets for paddy rice for Cambodian farmers, according to the minister’s post.
Tina explained that the ministry facilitated a direct meeting between the Philippines’ delegation and the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), to negotiate export details and expedite the ordering process.
“Establishing this new agri-business connection will provide mutual benefits for both countries. The Philippines will secure a source of high-quality rice, while Cambodia will gain another new international market,” he said.
“The opening of this new rice market will also enable the ministry’s partner rice mills to purchase more paddy rice from our farmers on a broader scale,” he added.
According to the CRF, in the first nine months of 2025, Cambodia exported 596,341 tonnes of rice, worth nearly $409 million, to 69 destinations.
The Philippines is one of the world’s largest rice importers, with Vietnam and Thailand — both Cambodia’s neighbours — being its largest suppliers.