Philippines expands rice imports directly from Cambodia
Additional contracts covering 87,344 tonnes could lift Cambodia's rice shipments to the Philippines to around 209,000 tonnes in 2026.
The Philippines imported 122,102 tonnes of Cambodian milled rice during January-August, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) figures show, as it sought to diversify its suppliers. That compares with 3,500 tonnes during the previous full year.
The purchases made the Philippines Cambodia's biggest ASEAN destination for milled rice in 2026. Contracts covering another 87,344 tonnes are scheduled for September-December; completing all those orders would bring shipments to around 209,000 tonnes for the year.
The shift towards direct purchases coincided with lower Cambodian paddy exports to Vietnam. Those shipments dropped 13 per cent during the opening four months of 2026, according to USDA. Vietnamese businesses have traditionally bought Cambodian paddy, processed it in Vietnam and exported the finished product to destinations including the Philippines.
USDA said Cambodia's millers retain more added value when they export milled rice rather than unprocessed paddy. It also said large Philippine orders reduce freight costs for each tonne and allow faster deliveries than container shipments.
Government-backed credit programmes and increased Philippine import allocations are supporting the trade. USDA said further expansion would depend mainly on whether Cambodia could keep its prices competitive.
