Cambodia rice exports to China rise 83%

Chinese Ambassador Wang Wenbin said on May 12 that Cambodia’s rice exports to China rose 83% year-on-year in the first four months of 2026, putting a fresh number on one of Phnom Penh’s fastest-growing trade lanes. The figure covered January through April and was based on Cambodia Rice Federation data cited by the ambassador and later carried by Cambodian state and local media. Cambodia shipped 129,332 tonnes of milled rice to China in the period, generating $75.88 million in revenue. The increase comes as Cambodia pushes to expand agricultural exports under regional and bilateral trade deals, and as China remains one of the country’s biggest rice buyers. ### Where did the 83% figure come from? The Cambodia Rice Federation said Cambodia exported 129,332 tonnes of rice to China between January and April 2026, up 83% from a year earlier, according to Agence Kampuchea Presse and other Cambodian media reports quoting the federation’s data. Those reports said the shipments generated $75.88 million in revenue. Wang Wenbin, China’s ambassador to Cambodia, highlighted the increase in a May 12 Facebook post, according to reports carried on May 13. (akp.gov.kh) Fresh News and AKP both attributed the figures to the ambassador’s post and to Cambodia Rice Federation statistics. ### How large is China in Cambodia’s rice export mix? Cambodia Rice Federation data released on May 7 showed the country exported 469,909 tonnes of milled rice to 60 international markets in January-April, with revenue of about $226 million from milled rice exports. (akp.gov.kh) China and its autonomous regions bought 129,332 tonnes worth $75.88 million, making China the second-largest destination after five ASEAN countries taken together. Lun Yeng, secretary-general of the Cambodia Rice Federation, said China absorbed 28% of Cambodia’s total rice exports in the first four months of 2026, according to AKP. That gives the 83% increase more context: China was not just a fast-growing market, but already one of Cambodia’s largest buyers. ### What is driving the increase, according to officials? (cambodianess.com) Wang Wenbin said the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement were boosting Cambodia’s agricultural trade, according to AKP’s account of his May 12 post. That is the clearest on-record explanation attached to the latest export jump. Cambodian officials have also pointed to a larger China quota. (akp.gov.kh) AKP reported that Cambodia and China signed a new agreement in 2025 raising the quota for Cambodian milled rice exports to China to 500,000 tonnes from 400,000 tonnes, a 25% increase. Separate reporting on Cambodia’s rice strategy also said the 500,000-tonne memorandum was intended to support stronger sales into China. ### How does this fit into Cambodia’s broader rice export push? Cambodia Rice Federation figures show the country’s total milled rice exports rose 66% year-on-year in January-April to 469,909 tonnes. Revenue from those milled rice exports reached about $266.3 million, while combined exports of milled rice and paddy rice brought in around $840 million, according to federation data reported by Xinhua and Cambodianess. (akp.gov.kh) Fragrant rice remained Cambodia’s biggest export category, accounting for 58% of total rice exports in the first four months, Cambodianess reported, citing the federation. The country exported milled rice to 60 markets during the period, underscoring that sales to China are part of a wider expansion rather than a single-market story. (english.news.cn) ### What should readers watch next? The Cambodia Rice Federation has said Cambodia aims to exceed 1 million metric tons of rice exports in 2026, according to an interview with federation president Oknha Lay Chhun Hour published by S&P Global on May 11. Monthly federation releases will show whether shipments to China keep rising fast enough to use more of the 500,000-tonne quota cited by Cambodian officials. (spglobal.com) (cambodianess.com)