Cambodia’s rice export down in 7-month period hinh anh 1Cambodia’s rice exports during January-July reduces by nearly 6.3 percent year on year. (Photo: Reuters)

Phnom Penh (VNA) – Cambodia’s rice exports in the first seven months of this year reduced by nearly 6.3 percent year on year, or 18,837 tonnes, to 297,080 tonnes, according to statistics of the secretariat of the One-Window Service for Rice Export Formality.

The secretariat attributed the decrease to rice exporters in the region cutting export rice prices to enhance competitiveness.

However, the Ministry of Agriculture said the reduction in rice export is due to insufficient purchase of unmilled rice and limited rice reserves.

According to Hean Vahhan, director general of the general directorate of agriculture, as next month will be the main harvest time, rice export will pick up in the coming months.

Last year, Cambodia shipped abroad more than 600,000 tonnes of milled rice, an increase of 17 percent from a year earlier. China was the largest buyer of Cambodian rice with a quota of 300,000 tonnes.-VNA  
VNA