Japan’s MIRARTH Agri Tech is set to export 250 tonnes of cashew nut products directly to the European Union (EU) market this year, with the first phase involving 16 tonnes. This significant milestone underscores the Ministry of Commerce’s ongoing efforts to identify and secure international markets for Cambodian products.
Samheng Bora, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and Chairman of the Export Promotion Task Force attended the ceremony celebrating MIRARTH Agri Tech’s first export of cashew nuts to the EU market on Thursday. Delegations from the Ministry of Commerce accompanied him.
The event was celebrated in Kampong Thom province and was also attended by Touch Bun Hour, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF); Nhim Ban Kheng, Deputy Governor of Kampong Thom Province; representatives from relevant institutions; members of the Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia (CAC); and around 500 local citizens, according to the MoC statement.
The ministry stated that this milestone reflects the combined efforts of the Royal Government, relevant partners, and the private sector to enhance the quality of Cambodia’s cashew nut processing sector to meet international standards.
The successful export to the European market demonstrates that cashews produced at the Kampong Thom factory meet international quality benchmarks, contributing to the creation of high-value products. This achievement is a source of pride for the company, the local community, and the nation.
Bora highlighted that MIRARTH Agri Tech Co. Ltd. is on track to export 250 tonnes of cashew nut products to the EU market this year, emphasising Cambodia’s potential in the cashew nut processing sector.
“The first export of processed cashew nuts to the European Union is not only a success for the company but also an important milestone in our mission to bring Cambodian products to the international market,” he added.
He expressed hopes that this success would inspire other companies also to consider exporting to the EU.
Uon Silot, President of the Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia (CAC), told Khmer Times that the first export to Europe is a positive development.
“In Europe, the demand for sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS) is high,” he said. “Therefore, the fact that the factory can meet European requirements confirms that Cambodian food standards are acceptable in the international market, which is a positive sign.”
Silot also mentioned that the cashew sector has shown many positive signs, but in 2024, his association observed a slight decline in domestic processing due to two main factors: the high cost of raw cashew nuts on the international market, which has led some enterprises to sell raw cashew nuts instead of processing them, and the lack of sufficient capital for enterprises to stock raw cashews for processing throughout the year.
According to the Cambodian Cashew Nut Association (CAC), from January to October 2024, Cambodia produced 840,000 tonnes of cashew nuts, a 26 percent increase from the previous year.
