Cambodian Rice Ventures into Middle Eastern and African Markets

June 7, 2024 - The Cambodian Rice Federation (CRF) achieved fruitful results at the Saudi Food Exhibition held in Riyadh, attracting strong interest from potential buyers in the Middle East and Africa. The federation remains optimistic about expanding the rice market.

The CRF stated that their exhibition booth received a lot of attention from industry professionals, as this was the first time Cambodian rice was showcased at this international food expo. Participating in the Saudi Food Exhibition is expected to help boost the export potential of Cambodian rice, opening new doors to markets in the Middle East and Africa.

"Saudi Arabia is one of the largest countries in the Middle East in terms of land area, population, and economic development. It represents a huge potential export market for Cambodian rice," said Lun Yit, Secretary-General of the CRF.

Cambodia's rice exports to the Middle Eastern market have grown from 1,398 tons in 2015 to 7,621 tons in 2023. Exports to the African market have also increased from 4,284 tons in 2015 to 52,828 tons in 2023, according to the CRF's report.

The CRF is now actively exploring the potential to export Cambodian rice to Saudi Arabia, as part of its strategy to further expand the Cambodian rice market in Saudi Arabia, the wider Middle East, and Africa.

The successful participation in the Saudi Food Exhibition has undoubtedly opened new avenues for Cambodian rice to penetrate these promising overseas markets.