Philippine rice imports from Cambodia rise as Manila diversifies supply
The USDA says the Philippines became Cambodia’s biggest ASEAN market for milled rice in 2026, while Cambodian paddy shipments to Vietnam declined.
The Philippines imported 122,102 metric tons of Cambodian milled rice during January-August 2026, compared with 3,500 MT throughout 2025, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The agency linked the increase to Manila’s efforts to broaden its sources of imported rice.
A further 87,344 MT has been contracted for Philippine delivery during September-December, the USDA said. Those shipments could lift the total to about 209,000 MT.
The shift towards direct purchases from Cambodia has reduced demand from Vietnamese mills, according to the agency. Vietnam traditionally bought Cambodian wet paddy, processed it domestically and then exported the milled rice to the Philippines. Cambodia’s paddy exports to Vietnam dropped 13 per cent during the first four months.
The USDA said exporting milled rice rather than raw paddy lets Cambodian millers retain more of the supply chain’s value. Philippine bulk orders have also helped Cambodia reduce per-ton costs and delivery times relative to containerised shipments, it said.
Larger Philippine import allocations and government-backed credit are supporting the trade, the agency added. Citing industry sources, it said further export growth to the Philippines may proceed gradually and depend on Cambodia keeping its prices competitive.
