Cambodia’s cashew production sector could significantly boost its income if it can directly export raw cashew nuts to the Chinese market. Unofficial data showed that revenue from raw cashew exports in the first eight months of 2025 amounted to approximately US$1.4 billion, according to Silot Uon, chairman of the Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia (CAC). Speaking to The Post on Monday (Sept 8), Uon stated that Cambodia’s cashew industry still has considerable opportunities to contribute to the national economy. This can be achieved by strengthening and expanding its market diversification efforts, especially by targeting China, one of the largest markets in the world. He explained that due to limited financial capacity, storage facilities, and processing factories, Cambodia exports tens of thousands of tonnes of raw nuts annually to neighbouring countries, predominantly Vietnam, resulting in a loss of income to transit countries. He added that directly exporting raw cashew nuts to key target countries could bring many benefits through increased revenue. China has high potential as a market for raw cashews. “This is an excellent opportunity for Cambodia to diversify its export markets by reducing its dependence on a single buyer. At the Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia, we are committed to facilitating partnerships and supporting local traders to benefit from the rising demand in China,” he said. Uon also revealed that, according to unofficial data, in the first eight months of 2025, Cambodia exported approximately 941,000 tonnes of raw cashews, earning an estimated $1.4 billion in revenue. At present, only a small portion of raw nuts are sent to China. “We aim to change this model by encouraging direct exports to Chinese economic zones like Yingkou and Nanning, which are major processing hubs in China. If we can directly ship raw materials to China, we can add value, stabilise prices for farmers and strengthen Cambodia’s position as a top supplier of high-quality cashew nuts,” he noted. His remarks align with recent developments. Hul Siengheng, undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, led a Cambodian delegation to the Global Industry Conference in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. The goal was to promote international cooperation in technology, education, agriculture and particularly the cashew industry. As part of the visit, the Cambodian delegation held discussions with Wang Li, general manager of the Yingkou Free Trade Zone (FTZ), a major economic centre in northeastern China. During the meeting, the FTZ leadership expressed strong interest in directly purchasing large quantities of raw cashew nuts from Cambodia to meet growing demand in the region. Cashews are becoming increasingly popular as a key ingredient in northeastern Chinese cuisine, while the current supply is insufficient. According to Uon, besides China, Cambodia is also eyeing the EU market, although exports there face some challenges. “The European market for cashew exports is good. However, Cambodia faces some difficulties because the EU prefers W320-grade cashews (smaller, cheaper nuts), while Cambodia mostly produces W180-grade cashews (larger, more expensive nuts). Additionally, exporting to the EU requires compliance with numerous food safety and certification standards, making it a tougher market to penetrate,” he explained. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN