Cambodian agricultural products gain ground in global premium markets

Cambodian agricultural products gain ground in global premium markets

Cambodian agricultural and agro-processed products are making increasing inroads into premium international markets and major retail networks, reflecting the Royal Government’s efforts to diversify export markets, expand domestic processing capacity and strengthen national agricultural value chains.

Guided by the vision of Prime Minister Hun Manet, the Ministry of Commerce, through its Export Promotion Task Force (EPTF), has been working with the private sector under the “Made in Cambodia” campaign to promote Cambodian products in high-value overseas markets.

The partnership has produced notable results, particularly in the rice sector. Amru Rice’s premium Phka Malis jasmine rice, marketed under the Comptoir du Grain brand, has reached the shelves of E.Leclerc, one of France’s leading hypermarket chains.

Its Emerald River premium rice has also expanded into the United States, including Costco Wholesale, while its Apsara Rice brand is available through Cold Storage supermarkets in Singapore and the DFI Retail Group network in Hong Kong.

Cambodian agro-processed products are likewise gaining access to major international retailers. Processed mango products from Kirirom Food Production (KFP), after meeting stringent sanitary, food-safety and quality requirements, are now distributed under Kirkland Signature, Costco’s private-label brand.

Meanwhile, processed mango products from Misota have expanded into Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union. In Japan, the products are distributed through AEON supermarkets, while in France, OJA-branded products are available at six Carrefour locations and 20 pharmacies, with plans to expand to Monoprix, EPIC & GIE UNIFRAIS and Intermarché.

The Ministry of Commerce has also facilitated the export of fully processed Cambodian cashew nuts directly to international buyers, with HCST achieving a milestone by supplying products for the first time to Whitworths in the United Kingdom and Boettger in Germany.

Beyond rice, mangoes and cashews, other Cambodian agricultural and agro-processed products are steadily expanding their international presence. These include premium Geographical Indication products such as Kampot Pepper, Kampot-Kep Flower of Salt and Kampong Speu Palm Sugar, which have gained recognition in the European Union, the United States and Japan.

A growing range of Cambodian seasonings, sauces and ready-to-cook products, including traditional Amok and curry pastes, premium fish sauce and processed fishery products such as Prahok and smoked fish, is also reaching consumers in the United States, Australia and Europe.

The growing presence of Cambodian products on leading international retail shelves demonstrates the country’s increasing capacity to move beyond the export of raw agricultural commodities toward higher-value processing, branding and market diversification. 

khmertimeskh