Cambodia’s fresh cassava market appears to be getting stronger, with a significant increase in exports, up more than 160 percent in the first quarter of 2024.
According to a report by the General Department of Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, released by the Rural and Agricultural Development Bank on Wednesday, Cambodia exported more than 2 million tons of fresh cassava in the first quarter of 2024, an additional increase of more than 160 percent.
The increase reflects strong demand for fresh cassava, driven by domestic and international markets.
According to the report, “in the first nine months of 2024, fresh cassava exports exceeded 2 million tons, up 162.53 percent compared to the same period last year.”
However, dried cassava exports amounted to more than 860,000 tons, down 12.54 percent compared to the same period last year. Currently, cassava cultivation area in Cambodia is about 700,000 hectares.
Speaking to the Khmer Times, Mr. L. Chinh, president of the Cassava Farmers Association (CFA), said the increase in exports was driven by two factors: high production levels and low domestic demand, as Cambodia’s cassava market is focused on exports rather than domestic consumption.
He said only 20 to 30 percent of the domestic consumption is met, with the rest exported, mainly to Thailand and Vietnam.
“We produce over 10 million tons of cassava per year, of which only about 2 to 3 million tons are consumed domestically,” he added. “In terms of price, dried cassava has a high and stable price, while fresh cassava is still affordable at between 220 and 400 riels per kilogram, but dried cassava costs between 660 and 750 riels per kilogram.”
He said that in the future, he does not want to see more cassava exports. He wants to see more cassava processing plants in the country because we can process it into cassava flour or other products for export.
He said that there are about 12 cassava processing plants, but only about 4 to 5 cassava processing plants are operational.
The Royal Government of Cambodia has developed the National Cassava Policy 2020-2025, which was officially published in January 2021 after being approved by the government in August 2020.
The National Cassava Policy 2020-2025 aims to make Cambodia a reliable producer, processor, and supplier of cassava products to boost exports to the world market.
