Synopsis: Officials are actively working to attract more foreign investment into the cashew nut sector, particularly in processing and value-added production.
Cambodia exported cashew nuts worth over $700 million in the first six months of 2025, an increase of 56 percent compared to the same period last year.
According to a report released by the Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday, Cambodia exported cashew nuts worth $753.21 million from January to June this year, an increase of $272.45 million or 56.67 percent compared to the same period last year, which recorded exports worth $480 million.
Officials are actively working to attract more foreign investment into the cashew nut sector, particularly in processing and value-added production. This effort is driven by the country’s significant raw cashew nut exports and the government’s focus on developing the agro-industry.
According to the Cashew nut Association of Cambodia (CAC), it has interacted with foreign investors from China, India, and Singapore to gain insight into Cashew Industrial Park (CIP), a major Royal Government of Cambodia’s initiative aimed at transforming Cambodia into a regional hub for cashew processing and export.
In a statement, the CAC said that the Cambodian government has allocated 400 hectares of land in Kampong Thom province for the development of the CIP. Officials plan to officially launch the agribusiness project by the end of 2025.
“The initiative is designed to attract both local and international investors by offering a range of incentives. Companies operating within the CIP will benefit from preferential tax and customs policies, access to state-backed infrastructure, the right to fully own land leased from the government without the need for a Cambodian shareholder, affordable long-term land leases, and additional investment-friendly measures to support sustainable growth,” the CAC stated.
These incentives are part of a broader strategy to encourage value-added processing in the agricultural sector, helping Cambodia move beyond raw exports, the CAC said
“The Cashew Industrial Park (CIP) will play a key role in driving economic growth, creating jobs, increasing farmer incomes, and stabilising agricultural prices,” CAC underlined.
As the global demand for cashew products continues to rise, Cambodia is positioning itself to become a leading player in the industry, with Kampong Thom as its central processing hub.
Suy Kokthean, Vice President of the CAC, earlier told Khmer Times that Cambodia is currently ranked as the second-largest cashew producer globally and is expected to become the top producer in the near future.
He added that Cambodia is known for its high-quality cashew nuts, and with the government’s preferential investment policy, the Qualification Investment Project (QIP-Plus), investors stand to gain significant benefits from expanding their operations in the country.
It may be recalled that Cambodia, with an estimated 580,117 hectares of cashew cultivation, ranks third in the world for the cultivated area of the crop, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).
It added that among the provinces, Kampong Thom has the largest cultivated area – approximately 147,700 hectares – followed by Kratie with 102,500 hectares and Ratanakiri with 97,200 hectares.