(Phnom Penh): In 2025, Cambodia exported more than 1 million tonnes of unprocessed cashew nuts, generating over USD 1.5 billion in revenue, according to the Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia (CAC).
Suy Kokthean, CAC Vice President, told reporters that most Cambodian cashew nuts were exported to Viet Nam, with additional shipments to India, China, and several other countries.
He assessed the cashew sector’s performance in 2025 as positive, citing both high yields and favourable prices, which enabled farmers to earn good profits. During the harvest season, fresh cashew nuts averaged around 5,000 riels per kilogram, while dried cashew nuts sold for approximately 6,000 riels per kilogram.
However, these prices have posed challenges for domestic processors, who face difficulties sourcing raw materials due to competition with higher-priced exports to international markets.
He explained that when raw materials for processing are expensive and processing technology remains limited, production costs rise, making it difficult for Cambodian processors to compete in the market.
Looking ahead to 2026, he expects cashew prices to remain strong and continue benefiting farmers, as some cashew-producing countries have imposed export bans, which could support higher prices for Cambodian cashews. Nevertheless, he expressed concern about yields in 2026 due to climate-related issues.
He noted that earlier this year, cooler weather caused some cashew trees to experience flower and fruit drop. However, if weather conditions return to normal in February, yields could improve again.
Previously, senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce expressed optimism about the opening of new markets for Cambodia’s processed cashew products, particularly in Europe, the United States, China, Australia, and Japan. Currently, Cambodian cashews are available for sale at 16,320 Family Mart outlets across Japan.
Speaking to Fresh News, Samheng Bora, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Commerce and a key figure in promoting new markets for Cambodian products, encouraged increased investment in cashew processing to boost exports and make a significant contribution toward achieving the objectives of the National Cashew Policy.
According to the National Cashew Policy 2022–2027, officially launched by the Ministry of Commerce in 2023, Cambodia aims to process 25% of its cashew production by 2027 and at least 50% by 2032. However, in 2025, processing reached only 22,600 tonnes equivalent to about 2.4% of total cashew production.
=FRESH NEWS
