Cassava exports jump 94%

The Kingdom’s cassava exports soared 94 per cent year-on-year in the first nine months of 2011, despite the recent flood devastation the agriculture sector has experienced, according to Ministry of Commerce figures. The statistics showed that Cambodia’s export of dry and fresh cassava hit about 22,652 tonnes from January to September, compared to 11,656 tonnes in the same period last year.

The increase was due to growing demand from international markets for the versatile shrub, Ministry of Commerce’s Secretary of State Chan Tharo said. He added that the increased production of cassava was due to the growing price in the last year. Chinese agricultural firm China National Food Industry (Group) Corp recently signed an agreement with local company Ly Ye Rubber Co Ltd to purchase 1 million tonnes of dry cassava to export back to China.

Khan Samban, director of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries’ Department of Industrial Crops told the Post yesterday that Cambodia could export cassava direct to China’s market by the end of the year. “With this agreement in place and once enough cassava is produced, we can then begin to export directly to China,” he said, adding that the majority of exports are to Thailand and Vietnam.With the majority of cassava cultivated on higher ground, production was barely affected by the recent floods, Khan Samban said.

Sorm Yin, president of Malai Trading in Malai district, Banteay Meanchy province, said that while some farms were affected by flooding, his regional exports increased.


“A survey undertaken in the district showed that around 20 per cent of farms were damaged,” he said, adding that one tonne of fresh cassava currently cost about US$95.

http://www.tpd.gov.kh/cambodiaproduct/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=325%3Acassava-exports-jump-94-&catid=64%3Alatest-news&Itemid=211&lang=en

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Cassava exports rise on ASEAN demand

DEMAND from Thailand and Vietnam helped to drive up the Kingdom’s cassava exports 88 percent in the first three months of 2011, compared to the same period last year, according to Camcontrol, a division of the Commerce Ministry. Cassava exports exports between January and March totaled 204,618 up 87.7 percent from 108,987 tonnes in 2010. Higher prices also helped to boost export revenues for Cambodia. Revenues for the period equaled US$9.9 million, or about a 143 percent increase from last year’s $4.1 million.

Khuon Savuth, director of Camcontrol, tied the rise to demand from the Kingdom’s larger neighbors and said the  increasing prices are pushing more and more farmers to plant cassava. “The high price of cassava not only improves the living standard of people but also up-holds the national economy”.

Chhorn Saroem Company, which exports agricultural products to Thailand, said the increased farming boosted her   cassava shipments in the first three months of the year 50 percent higher than the same period last year. “This year the farmers throughout Paillin province flock to cultivate more cassava than other crops because of high price,” she said.

She added that a tonne fetched 37,000 riels this year compared to 11,000 riel last year.

Khiev Sophet of Paillin, who typically grows corn, said he emphasized cassava this season because of its higher price. He said, even with the increased farming of the crop , “I believe the price should hold for next year.” According to data from Camcontrol, Cambodia’s cassava exports in 2010 totaled just 165,229 tonnes worth $12 million.

Source : The Phnom Penh Post

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Special Thai-Cambodian cassava-corn trade zone set to be established

BANGKOK, April 29, 2013 (NNT) – Thailand and Cambodia are on a path towards the setting up of a special trade zone that will see the two neighbors actively trade cassava and corn.

Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom revealed on Monday that the 4th Thailand-Cambodia Joint Trade Committee meeting, held last week, saw both countries content with the expansion of cross-border trade, which has been in line with the two neighbors’ target.

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to set an annual trade growth rate of 30 percent between 2012 and 2015.

Last year, trade between both expanded by 40.5 percent to4.03 billion dollars from 2.86 billion dollars in 2011.

Mr. Boonsong stated Thailand and Cambodia also set up a new joint working committee, tasked with the study of the establishment of a special trade zone for two major agricultural products, which are cassava and corn.

He said that study will cover the entire supply chain for both products and the proposal of the location of the special trade zone.

The Commerce Minister added that another taskforce was also set up to follow up on all steps and report everything to the next JTC meeting in 2014, which will be hosted by Thailand.

Meanwhile, Director-General of the Department of Trade Negotiations Piramol Charoenpao said that the Commerce Minister is soon to travel to Bhutan to sign a trade cooperation agreement of the two countries.


Mrs. Piramol stated that the upcoming agreement will allow Thai entrepreneurs to penetrate further into more markets, including India and Bangladesh; both of which have strong ties with Bhutan.

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