PHNOM PENH: A recent meeting between Cambodia's Minister of Commerce and a representative from American rice giant Otis McAllister, Inc. has sparked discussions about exporting Cambodian milled rice to the US.

On June 3rd, Minister Cham Nimul met with Mr. Patrick Murphy, Executive Vice President of Rice and Grains at Otis McAllister, at Raffles Hotel Le Royal. The Minister encouraged Cambodia's 16 major rice exporters, members of the Cambodia Rice Federation, to work with Otis McAllister to secure deals for supplying the US market.

Mr. Murphy expressed surprise at Cambodia's positive development and was impressed by the quality and consistent supply of Cambodian milled rice.

Cambodia's rice industry is already thriving. In the first four months of 2024, the country exported over 248,000 tonnes of milled rice to 60 countries, generating over US$170 million.

The Cambodia Rice Federation has set an ambitious goal to export at least a million tonnes of milled rice by 2025.

Major buyers include the European Union, China, and ASEAN member states. This new development suggests a potential expansion of Cambodia's rice market into the United States.