Cambodia’s fresh cassava market appears robust, which has seen significant growth in exports – up over 160 percent in the first three quarters of 2024.
According to a report from the General Department of Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) released by ARDB on Wednesday, Cambodia exported over 2 million tonnes of fresh cassava in the first three quarters of 2024, marking an increase of more than 160 percent.
The surge indicates a strong demand for fresh cassava, likely driven by both local and international markets.
According to the report, “In the first nine months of 2024, fresh cassava exports exceeded 2 million tonnes, representing a 162.53 percent rise compared to the same period last year.”
However, exports of dry cassava totalled more than 860,000 tonnes, a decrease of 12.54 percent from the same period of previous year. Currently, the area under cassava cultivation in Cambodia is approximately 700,000 hectares.
Speaking to Khmer Times, El Chhinh, President of the Cassava Farmers Association (CFA), said that the increase in exports was driven by two factors: high production levels and low domestic demand, as Cambodia’s cassava market is primarily export-oriented rather than focused on local consumption.
He said that only about 20 to 30 percent of domestic consumption is used locally with the remaining being exported abroad primarily to Thailand and Vietnam.
“We produce more than 10 million tonnes of cassava each year, with only about 2 to 3 million tonnes used domestically. Regarding prices, dried cassava is high and stable, while fresh cassava remains affordable costing between 220 and 400 riels per kilogram, but dried cassava prices range from 660 to 750 riels per kilogram,” said Chhinh.
He added that in future he did not want more cassava exports, he wanted to see more cassava processing plants in the country because [we] can process into cassava flour or other products for export.
According to Chhinh, there are around 12 cassava processing factories, but only about four to five of them are currently operational.
The Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) has established the National Cassava Policy 2020-2025, which was officially disseminated in January 2021 after being approved by the government in August 2020.
The National Cassava Policy 2020-2025 aims to make Cambodia a reliable production, processing and supplier of cassava products to boost exports to the world market.
