[PHNOM PENH POST]
Growing demand from European markets, natural disasters and drought in
rice producing countries has led to rice exports doubling in the first
four months of the year, according to Ministry of Commerce officials.
Cambodia’s
total rice exports reached 42,669 tonnes worth US$24,437,959 from
January to April 2011, compared to 21,322 tonnes worth $12,178,797 in
the same period last year.
“Demand is picking up throughout
European countries because we now export directly, whereas before we
just sold crops to neighbouring countries which processed for export,”
said the ministry’s Director of Statistics Kong Putheara yesterday.
“Some
countries, such as China experienced droughts recently, but we have
not, and that’s why we need to supply more,” he said. “I think China
will require more rice from us this year.”
He also highlighted growing opportunity in Europe from Cambodia’s status as a Least Developed Country.
Cambodia’s
exports to the European Union do not pay tax, which provides its rice
shipments with savings of about $150 per tonne, Kong Putheara added.
“You can export freely without limitation on quota,” he said.
However, many local producers still do not meet international standards of quality required by European buyers.
“We have not met our clients’ needs yet, but if we achieve this, we can sell at much higher prices.”
In
the first quarter of the year, Prey Veng province rice miller Khmer
Foods transported 7,180 tonnes to Europe, Managing Director Kim Savuth
told The Post.
“The increase was due to a surge in demand on the
global market, caused by natural disaster which affected many other
agricultural producing countries,” he said.
He attributed the
growth to the duty-free export of agricultural products within the
European market, stating: “The EU [regulations] helps us export our
crops.”
Khmer Foods plan to export an estimated 20,000 tonnes of rice to the EU this year.
The
significance of Cambodia’s access to a global duty free market was also
highlighted by Lim Bun Heng, Director General of Loran Import-Export
Company, whose exports have also increased in the first quarter.
“Duty-free
exports on the global market are a main factor for export growth, along
with encouragement from the government and relevant institutions.”
He
added that the company planned to export 40,000 tonnes in 2011,
highlighting the EU as the major market, as well as considering China,
USA and the Philippines.
Cambodian government officials have targeted 1 million tonnes of rice exports by 2015.
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