PHNOM PENH: Signature Rice, one of Cambodia's largest rice exporters, has outlined plans to step up exports to the Philippines.
On Nov 2, 5,000 tonnes were loaded onto a vessel in Kampot, as part of the total 20,000 tonnes the company plans to ship directly to the Philippines this month. It plans to match the figure in November and December.
For 2027, the company has set a target of exporting 100,000 tonnes of rice to the Philippines, which would make the country one of its largest markets.
“Moving rice in full vessels changes the numbers for us and for our buyers,” explained Chan Pich, general manager of Signature Rice.
“Delivery is faster than by container, and buyers get one large lot of the same quality. That makes Cambodian rice more competitive in the Philippines.
“We can deliver 5,000 tonnes in one shipment, and we are ready to do it every week. Our aim is to be a long-term supplier to the Philippine market, not a one-off seller,” he added.
The Philippines was expected to import a record 5.5 million tonnes of rice in 2026.
According to the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), Cambodia exported 122,102 tonnes of rice to the Philippines during the first eight months of 2026, with full-year exports expected to reach about 209,000 tonnes.
Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the Philippine Agriculture Secretary signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on agricultural cooperation in Manila in February 2025 by.
The shipment also supports the Royal Government’s goal of exporting 1 million tonnes of rice annually, a target set in 2015.
The Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) reported that Cambodia exported a total of 792,212 tonnes of rice to international markets during the first eight months of 2026, up an astonishing 67.5 per cent from the same period in 2025. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
