The price of the paddy/rice that Cambodian farmers may harvest in 2025 and 2026 may not be much of a problem as Vietnam is forecast to increase its imports of both paddy and rice in large quantities.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has predicted that Vietnam will become the world’s second-largest rice importer after the Philippines in 2025 and 2026.
The same source said that according to the latest global agricultural supply and demand estimates, Vietnam is forecast to be so because the country needs a lot of rice to meet export demands under contracts made at a time when domestic rice production is declining. .
The US Department of Agriculture estimates that in 2025, Vietnam will import up to 4 million tons of rice, and in 2026 It could reach 4.1 million tons, while the Philippines is expected to import the most rice with a demand of about 5.5 million tons.
Regarding rice exports, the Cambodian Rice Federation claimed that in the first four months of the year, Cambodia could export a total of more than 282,000 tons of rice, worth more than $209 million. In addition, Cambodia exported more than 3 million tons of rice worth about $723 million.
The same source claimed that Cambodia’s rice market is 59 countries, but the rice market is only neighboring countries, and it is known that the largest number is Vietnam.
Mr. Tou Saran, a farmer in Kampong Thom province, claimed that in the past, there were Thai traders who came to buy, but in recent years, only local traders and those from Vietnam have come. He claimed that he does not have any rice to sell right now, but last year he was able to sell 5 to 6 tons, and the price was reasonable, more than 1 million riel per ton.
Another 45-year-old farmer in Bathay district, Kampong Cham province, named Chin Sadem, claimed that as long as the rice is priced well, farmers will have the strength to work, and because in addition to eating, they can exchange it to make a living.
According to the Cambodian Rice Federation, the price of wet rice is currently slightly over 900 to 1,000 riels per kilogram, but there is not much wet rice because farmers have just started to increase their yields. In fact, because of this rice export, Cambodia is known to be running a trade surplus with Vietnam.
The General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia claimed that in the first four months of this year, Cambodia had a trade surplus with Vietnam of more than $354 million, with Cambodia exporting nearly $1.790 million and importing more than $1.435 million. Cambodia imports from Vietnam electronic devices, consumer goods, fuel, etc., and exports only agricultural products.
