Cambodia will lift a partial ban on rice exports that had been put in place to ensure local food security during the coronavirus crisis, the finance minister told exporters of the grain on Wednesday.
Finance Minister Aun Porn Moniroth wrote to the Cambodia Rice Federation to confirm the decision.
"I would like to inform (that) ... the royal government has decided to allow exports of white rice gradually starting from May 20, 2020, onward," the letter said.
The partial ban has been in place since April 5.
Cambodia exports only about 500,000 tonnes a year according to government figures, but its partial export ban followed similar moves by other nations and came amid concerns that the global food supply chain would be disrupted.
Vietnam, the third-largest rice supplier, fully resumed exports this month, after halting sales from late March and limiting supply in April to make sure it has sufficient food during the pandemic.
(Reporting by Prak Chan Thul; Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by Tom Hogue and Louise Heavens)
