PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, Oct. 29, 2026 — Chip Mong Bank plans to increase financing for Cambodia’s cashew sector to approximately US$700 million by 2027, aiming to help farmers access working capital, improve production and expand domestic processing.
Mr. Chey Samrech, head of risk management at Chip Mong Bank, said at a recent agricultural forum that the bank provided financing of approximately US$700 million in 2026. He said expanding access to capital could help farmers invest across the cashew value chain, from cultivation to processing finished products.
He noted that proper fertilizer application, chemical use in accordance with technical standards, warehouse construction and improvements to processing machinery all require investment to increase yields, improve quality and create greater added value.
However, Silot Uon, president of the Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia (CAC), said that some agricultural financing schemes remained difficult for farmers and processors to access due to restrictive conditions.
He cited a stock-collateral arrangement introduced in 2026 that required joint management of cashew inventories with the lending bank, limiting borrowers’ ability to sell or manage their own stocks independently.
Dr. Chey Tech, a socio-economic development researcher, welcomed financing for agricultural value addition but said high interest rates remained a major obstacle. He called for the National Bank of Cambodia to facilitate lending conditions and reduce borrowing costs, arguing that agriculture generally offers lower returns than real estate and some other sectors.
Chey Tech added that investors and financial institutions were increasingly recognising agriculture’s potential to supply domestic markets and strengthen local production.
Agriculture accounts for approximately 16% of Cambodia’s gross domestic product, according to the figures provided. In 2025, Cambodia exported 1,020,757 tonnes of raw cashew nuts to Vietnam, worth approximately US$1.5 billion.
The source material also reported that Cambodia exported approximately 1.8 million tonnes of cashews worth around US$1.9 billion during the first eight months of 2026. These figures may require verification before publication, particularly the reported export volume and the bank’s financing totals.
Editorial note: The source contains figures that appear inconsistent or may need clarification. In particular, please confirm whether the bank’s US$700 million refers to total agricultural lending, cashew-sector financing, or a target for 2027. The reported 1.8 million tonnes of cashew exports in the first eight months of 2026 should also be checked before publication.
Reference: AMS Economy
