According to a study by French-based industry report search engine ReportLinker, Cambodia's fruit and vegetable market is trending up. This, in turn, provides an unparalleled opportunity for the kingdom’s growers, who often lack buyers for their produce.
In its study Cambodia Fruits and Vegetables Market – Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2020 - 2025), released last week, ReportLinker said the kingdom’s food and beverage market has grown significantly in recent years.
Urbanisation, tourism and economic growth in the kingdom pre-Covid-19 had fuelled growth in the fruit and vegetable market, drawing the attention of regional and international brands. The key processed food and beverage products made and consumed in Cambodia include fresh cut vegetables, dried vegetables, pickles, sauces, fruit juices and wine, said the study.
“Owing to the ongoing industrial developments and government support, foreign players are looking forward to establishing fruit processing companies in the country. For example, Coconut Palm Group Co Ltd, a leading tropical fruit juice manufacturer, plans to invest in coconut plantations and setup a factory in Cambodia to produce fruit juice in 2020.”
“Thus, the growing food processing industries, government support for the food processing industries, and export demand for fruit juices may stimulate the growth of the market studied. Bananas were the most prominently cultivated fruit in Cambodia. Additionally, the mango industry in the country became more resilient in recent years, with a rising adoption of improved production and supply chain practices.”
“Fruit-bearing vegetables, such as tomatoes, were the most widely cultivated vegetables in the country. On the other hand, beans held one of the most prominent shares in vegetable imports in 2019. Some of the major vegetable producing areas in Cambodia include Kandal, Kampong Cham, Siem Reap, and Kampot,” it said.
Sales manager at Kirirom Food Product Co Ltd, a mango processing factory, Mao Sothea, told The Post that Cambodia’s fruit exports have grown substantially in recent years. “Nowadays, my factory is doubling its production level during the pandemic. We have also increased mango purchases from farmers to up to 100 tonnes per day. Before the coronavirus spread, we’d buy just 60 tonnes of mangoes per day for processing.”
Last year, the kingdom exported 58,162 tonnes of fresh mango to six markets – Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, France, Russia and Hong Kong.