Phnom Penh: Nippon Koei Business Partners Co., Ltd. has expressed interest in investing in cashew processing for export, with plans to process cashew nuts and shells into vinegar, oil, and animal feed. This development was announced by Mr. Tsutomu Tamura, Deputy General Manager of the company, during a meeting with H.E. Chea Vuthy, Secretary General of the Cambodian Investment Board of the Council for the Development of Cambodia.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, H.E. Chea Vuthy outlined the potential of Cambodia’s cashew sector, highlighting key provinces for cashew cultivation and strategies to maximize benefits from the industry. He emphasized the Royal Government of Cambodia’s focus on developing the cashew sector, particularly in processing.

This year, Cambodia exported over 800,000 tonnes of cashew nuts, generating approximately US$1,150 million, marking a 31 percent increase from the previous year. Mr. Uon Siloth, President of the Cambodian Cashew Association, reported that Cambodia produced around 850,000 tonnes of cashew nuts in 2024, a 26 percent rise from 2023. The country currently hosts 50 cashew nut processing enterprises, including six medium-sized factories.

Cambodia’s primary export markets for cashew nuts are Vietnam, Japan, and China. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries reported that cashew plantations spanned approximately 580,117 hectares across Cambodia in 2024, with Kampong Thom province hosting the largest cultivated area of around 147,700 hectares, followed by Kratie province with 102,500 hectares and Rattanakiri province with 97,200 hectares.