2015年-世界发展银行全球_Cambodia_Rice_Sector_Review___A_More_Detailed_Road_Map_for_Cambodian_Rice_Exports_63页_1mb

Cambodia Rice Sector Review Summary

Core Content

This document provides a detailed analysis of Cambodia's rice export sector, focusing on the challenges and opportunities for increasing competitiveness and expanding market access. It outlines a strategic roadmap to enhance Cambodia's position in the global rice market, particularly in light of the country's growing production and the impact of trade agreements such as the "Everything but Arms" (EBA) with the European Union (EU) and Russia.

Main Points and Key Information

1. Export Growth and Market Dependence

• Cambodia's rice exports have grown significantly since 2009, especially due to the EBA trade agreement with the EU and Russia.
• In 2010, exports reached over 51,000 tons, and by 2011, were estimated at 175,000 tons.
• The EU is the largest market, with over 90% of Cambodia's rice exports going to the EU and Russia.
• Russia primarily imports non-fragrant rice, while the EU imports both fragrant and non-fragrant rice in equal proportions.

2. Export Competitors

• Fragrant rice: Thailand is the main competitor, exporting about 2.65 million tons of aromatic rice in 2010/2011.
• Non-fragrant rice: Vietnam is the principal competitor in the non-aromatic white rice markets (e.g., Philippines, Indonesia), while Pakistan and Burma compete in low-grade white rice markets, mainly in Africa.

3. Competitiveness Challenges

• Cambodia has lower production costs than Thailand and Vietnam, but its non-fragrant milled rice is not competitive due to:
  • High milling costs and margins.
  • High domestic transport costs (formal and informal).
  • Time-consuming and expensive export procedures.
  • High port charges and uncompetitive ocean freight.
• The FOB price of Cambodian non-fragrant rice is around $950, while Vietnamese rice is available at $600.
• The cost of rice milling in Cambodia is $30–50/ton, compared to $20–30/ton in Thailand and Vietnam.
• The cost of transporting rice to the harbor in Cambodia is $50–60/ton, which is double that of Thailand.

4. Logistical and Export Infrastructure

• Cambodia's logistics system is inadequate for handling large-scale exports.
• All rice is currently exported in containers from Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville ports.
• To increase export volumes, Cambodia needs to:
  • Develop larger mills and polishing factories.
  • Reduce milling costs by adopting rice husk gasification technology, which can cut costs by up to 70%.
  • Negotiate transit agreements with Vietnam and Thailand to enable break bulk shipments via the Mekong River to Saigon Port.

5. Export Procedures and Costs

• Export procedures remain highly bureaucratic and informal costs are unacceptably high.
• Combined formal and informal costs add $17/ton to FOB prices.
• The government should:
  • Expand "single stop service" offices for export approvals.
  • Increase the number of rice inspectors and ensure availability outside regular hours.
  • Consider transferring inspection duties from the General Department of Customs and Excise to Camcontrol.
  • Reduce port costs and export documentation fees.

6. Quality and Market Segmentation

• The global rice market is segmented and imperfect, with distinct markets based on:
  • Grain length and percentage of brokens.
  • Kernel shape, chalkiness, and translucency.
• The main rice types include:
  • Glutinous rice: Low amylose, used in desserts, with low global trade volume (~300,000 tons).
  • Aromatic rice: High trade volume (~5.7 million tons).
  • Japonica rice: Semi-sticky, round grain, traded in volumes of ~1.5 million tons.
  • Indica rice: Most traded type (~23.5 million tons), typically shipped as rough rice or paddy.
• The market is further divided into:
  • Parboiled rice: ~5.5 million tons.
  • Regular milled rice: ~15 million tons, sub-divided by brokens content into high, medium, and low quality.

7. Recommendations

• Develop a viable road map for rice exports that considers the location of surplus, type of rice, and market competitiveness.
• Prioritize securing Vietnam's agreement to allow uncontainerized rice to be barged down the Mekong River to Saigon Port.
• Encourage private sector investments in larger mills and polishing factories with capacities of at least 30 tons/hour.
• Reconstitute the Rice Technical Working Group (RTWG) to include the five largest rice exporters and hold quarterly meetings to address export challenges.
• Conduct scientific studies to prove that Cambodian rice is pest and GMO-free, enabling blanket certification and reducing testing requirements.
• Improve SPS compliance for key markets like China, by eliminating quarantine pests such as Leptochloa chinensis, Striga asiatica, Apenlenchoides besseyi, and Ditylenchus angustus.

Key Findings

• Cambodia cannot meet its 1 million ton export goal without exporting both fragrant and non-fragrant rice.
• Thailand is the main competitor for fragrant rice, and Vietnam for non-fragrant white rice.
• Non-fragrant milled rice is uncompetitive due to high milling and transport costs.
• EBA and Russia's duty-free policies are key enablers of export growth, but lower prices are needed to enter other Asian markets.
• Logistical improvements and streamlined export procedures are essential to increase competitiveness.
• Scientific certification and transit agreements are critical to address SPS and cost barriers.

Table of Cambodia Rice Exports (TMT)

Notes:

• • = Less than 500 tons.
• 1/ Includes shipments declared to Renuion.

Conclusion

To achieve its export targets, Cambodia must address logistical inefficiencies, reduce milling and transport costs, and improve SPS compliance. Strategic investments in infrastructure, policy reforms, and collaboration with the private sector are essential for enhancing competitiveness and expanding market access beyond the EU and Russia.