Vietnam buys 80 pct of Cambodia’s agriculture exports

Vietnam bought nearly 80 percent of Cambodia’s nearly $5 billion worth of agriculture exports last year. It bought 96-99 percent of Cambodia’s cashew, pepper and mung bean exports, according to a report by Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Exports of Cambodia cashew to Vietnam grew 4.6 times from 2020, and that of pepper and mung bean surged four times. Other produce that Vietnam bought in large amounts from its neighbor were rice, grapefruit, bananas, and mangoes. Cambodian Agriculture Minister Veng Sakhom told Vietnam’s President Nguyen Xuan Phuc during the latter’s recent visit that Vietnam was Cambodia’s biggest importer among 70 countries and territories last year.

Vietnamese companies had also harvested $200 million worth of latex in the first 11 months last year, he added.

“Rubber farming has created jobs for around 33,000 locals. Vietnamese companies also contributed to over 50 percent of Cambodia’s banana exports, creating jobs for around 14,000 workers.”

Insiders say the surge in Cambodia’s exports of agricultural produce to Vietnam came as many Vietnamese companies have invested in Cambodian farming.

Agriculture expert Vo Tong Xuan ascribed the trend to Vietnamese businesses and individuals taking advantage of Cambodia’s affordable land fund as well as lower labor costs.

“The yield is then exported back to Vietnam.”

In the first 11 months last year, trade value between Vietnam and Cambodia rose 84 percent year-on-year to $8.6 billion, according to Vietnam Customs. Cambodia’s exports to Vietnam rose 337 percent in the period.