Stung Treng, July 28, 2026 — Cambodian cashew processor Handcrafted Cashew Stung Treng (HCST) is aiming to export 80 tons of processed cashew nuts to the United Kingdom in 2026, marking a significant milestone for the country's growing agro-processing industry.
The target follows HCST's latest shipment of approximately 6 tons of processed cashew kernels to the UK, the company's third export consignment to the British market.
Speaking to Kampuchea Thmey on Tuesday, HCST Co-founder Soeun Sothnita said the company expects to ship a total of 80 tons of processed cashew products to the United Kingdom this year.
She explained that exports had originally been scheduled to begin earlier in 2026 but were delayed due to limited working capital to purchase raw cashew nuts during the harvest season.
"We have strong demand from international buyers, but access to sufficient capital remains one of our biggest challenges," she said, adding that existing customers in Israel are also waiting for deliveries. HCST currently follows a "first deposited, first served" policy to manage orders.
Despite the financing constraints, the company has significantly expanded its production capacity. Since mid-2026, HCST has increased its processing capability to 10 tons per day, representing a tenfold increase compared with previous years.
The expansion reflects growing international demand for Cambodian processed cashew products and the company's efforts to strengthen its presence in premium export markets.
The British Embassy in Cambodia welcomed the latest shipment, confirming that HCST's exports to the United Kingdom have officially commenced for 2026.
"Through our UK Trade Partnerships Programme and the Development Countries Trading Scheme, HCST has successfully accessed the UK market, showcasing the quality and potential of Cambodia's agri-food sector," the embassy said in a statement.
The embassy also congratulated the company on its achievement and expressed optimism that more Cambodian products would soon reach British consumers.
The successful entry into the UK market highlights the growing international recognition of Cambodian cashew products and demonstrates the potential of the country's agro-processing sector to move beyond raw commodity exports toward higher-value processed goods.
Industry stakeholders say expanding domestic processing and accessing premium overseas markets will be critical to increasing export earnings, creating rural employment and strengthening Cambodia's competitiveness in the global cashew industry.
Reference : ©KPT Economy
