Russia-Ukraine conflict has little impact on Cambodia’s rice exports

Concerns have been raised about potential supply chain disruptions as a result of the war or sanctions levied against Moscow and Russian entities.

However, CRF Secretary-General Lun Yeng said that neither the Eastern European country was a major buyer of Cambodian milled-rice, and hinted that the ongoing conflict and associated events would be highly unlikely to substantially disrupt the routes used to move the staple grain around the world.

According to the CRF, Cambodia shipped just 17,512 tonnes of rice to Russia in the five years from 2017-2021, or 0.55 percent of the total 3.19 million tonnes exported globally. Last year, alone Russia bought 2,223 tonnes – worth about 1.96 million USD.

In January and February this year, Cambodia shipped 200 tonnes of milled rice to Russia worth 200,640 USD or 0.19 percent of the global total export volume for the two months.

Meanwhile, milled-rice exports to Ukraine over 2017-2021 clocked in at just 572 tonnes, CRF statistics showed.

CRF President Song Saran told the Phnom Penh Post that Cambodia was actively seeking to diversify rice export markets, placing a greater focus on mainland China, Hong Kong (China) and Macau (China), along with ASEAN countries.

He said that the decision was motivated by a steady decline in Cambodian milled-rice exports to the EU, as a result of a shipping container shortage and skyrocketing sea freight rates plaguing the industry over the past two years in the COVID-19 era.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries reported that Cambodia exported a total 103,058 tonnes of milled rice to international markets in January-February, increasing by 26,836 tonnes or 35.21 percent year-on-year, from 76,222 tonnes.

China was the largest buyer of Cambodian milled rice over the two months, accounting for 56,385 tonnes, up by 49.84 percent year-on-year, followed by 20 European countries with 26,507 tonnes, up 39.54 per cent./.