Cambodia: Cashew nuts exports, markets increase

• Aug 13, 2019

Cambodia exported 167,285 tonnes of cashew nuts during the first seven months of the year, official figures show.

In its latest report, the Ministry of Agriculture said that cashew nut exports have increased significantly since the government pledged to reach one million tonnes in shipments in the next ten years.

However, the report did not show the year-on-year growth in exports.

According to the Ministry, cashew nuts were exported to seven countries – Vietnam, Russia, South Korea, China, Myanmar, Peru, and Saudi Arabia.

Oum Uon, president of the Sambo Prei Kuk Cashew Nut Association in Kampong Thom province, told Khmer Times recently talk that most farmers have limited knowledge when it comes to planting and harvesting techniques that can boost yields.

“We lack the processing facilities we need. This means most cashews end up in the hands of traders who sell them to Vietnam,” Mr Uon noted.

Traders buy raw cashew nuts to sell them to Vietnamese buyers, according to Mr Uon.

In 2017, Cambodia produced about 104,000 tonnes of cashew nuts, most of which was exported to Vietnam.

The price of raw cashews ranges from $1.62 to $2 per kilogram. Processed cashew nuts are sold at about $17 per kilogram.

The Ministry of Agriculture in March established a working group tasked with conducting studies on cashew nut production with the ultimate goal of increasing production tenfold.

In 2018, the Ministry of Agriculture signed a memorandum of understanding with the Vietnam Cashew Association to bolster Cambodia’s cashew production to one million tonnes per year.

Under the MoU, the Vietnam Cashew Association agreed to share with local farmers advancements in technology related to planting and harvesting, as well as boost investment in local plantations, contract farming, and research.

Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50633007/cashew-nuts-exports-markets-increase/