Cambodian export sector to flourish in 2022

Cambodia exported 7.98 million tonnes of agricultural products to 68 countries and territories last year

Cambodia’s export sector saw a significant boom in January and February 2022. 

At the inauguration ceremony of the National Road No. 21 in Kandal, Prime Minister Hun Sen mentioned that exports increased by more than 30 percent during the first two months of the year.  

According to the Khmer Times, Cambodia’s major markets include Australia, Canada, Korea, Japan, the UK, and the US. The items primarily exported to these countries are fresh produce, garments, machinery and electrical equipment, and rice. Imported goods include automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and raw materials.

As of 16 March, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries director-general for Agriculture Ngin Chhay revealed at a press conference covered by The Phnom Penh that the country’s agricultural exports have reached 2.8 million tonnes. This is a boost of more than 22 percent or approximately 511,000 tonnes year-on-year. He listed products such as cassava, dried corn kernels, fresh bananas, and peppercorn as the primary food items that the country has exported over this period.

More: Cambodian economy to grow 4.5% in 2022 and 5.5% in 2023: World Bank

Cambodia exported 7.98 million tonnes of agricultural products to 68 countries and territories last year, up 63.84 percent or 3.11 million tonnes from 4.87 million tonnes in 2020, according to the National Sanitation Database.

Amidst this, however, Chhay remains cautious, saying, “While the growth of Cambodian agricultural exports to overseas markets has gained significant steam, there are still some major challenges in the implementation of sanitary and phytosanitary measures.”

“Moreover, the infrastructure for cleaning, packaging, and pest control does not yet meet the scale of production or exports,” he added.

Mainland China is the main market for Cambodian rice export, along with 20 more countries in the EU and three destinations in the ASEAN. More than 56,000 tonnes of rice have been exported in January and February 2022.

Pepper export to Japan remained low at 10 tonnes last year, but The Ministry of Commerce and ASEAN-Japan Center, in collaboration with the Cambodia Pepper and Spices Federation and Japan Pepper Association, recently conducted an online workshop to promote to the Japanese market.

The Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].