Cambodia Launches New Direct Water Route for Rice Exports to the Philippines

PHNOM PENH — Sept. 16, 2026: H.E. Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, presided over the launch of a new direct water transport route for Cambodian rice exports to the Philippines, marking a milestone for the Kingdom's rice sector.

The ceremony, held Wednesday morning at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, inaugurated the shipment of 10,000 tonnes of rice by bulk carrier between City Rice and Dilai Trading, exported directly from Cambodia to the Philippines.

The new bulk carrier route adds capacity to existing container shipments, boosting efficiency, strengthening the competitiveness of Cambodian rice on international markets, cutting costs and delivery times, and ensuring a stable supply of high-quality rice to the Philippine market.

Officials said the achievement was made possible by the guidance of Prime Minister Hun Manet on the use of Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, and by close coordination with the port authority.

Photo: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
In the first eight months of 2026, Cambodia exported 122,102 tonnes of rice to the Philippines, equal to more than 15.4 percent of total rice exports of 792,212 tonnes. The Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) said an additional 87,344 tonnes are already contracted for September to December, which would bring total exports to the Philippines in 2026 to approximately 209,446 tonnes.

That marks a significant increase over previous years and is a major factor behind projections of more than 1 million tonnes in total rice exports in 2026, breaking the record of 940,321 tonnes set in 2025.

The result reflects cooperation between the Cambodian and Philippine governments and the private sectors of both countries, including close coordination between H.E. Dith Tina and Philippine Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., along with B2B matching forums.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries


Reported by The Khmer Daily Network