Kampong Thom Crowned Cambodia’s Largest Cashew Production Hub

Kampong Thom province has become Cambodia’s largest cashew plantation area, with over 147,000 hectares under cultivation, and a significant hub for cashew production. The province is being developed into an agro-industrial zone, including a large cashew industrial park, to boost processing, create jobs and cement the Kingdom as a leading global cashew exporter.

Kampong Thom province has been crowned Cambodia’s king of cashews, growing to become the country’s largest cashew plantation area, boasting about 150,000 hectares of land dedicated to cashew cultivation and more than 140,000 hectares currently being harvested.

The average yield in the province stands at about 1.5 tonnes per hectare annually, resulting in a total production of more than 220,000 tonnes. This accounts for about 30 percent of the country’s overall cashew output.

Silot Uon , Chairman of the Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia (CAC), told Kiripost that Kampong Thom province remains the largest in cashew cultivation in Cambodia.

A CAC report said that Cambodia currently has about 700,000 hectares of cashew plantations. Of this, 580,000 hectares are in the harvesting phase, while approximately 120,000 hectares are newly cultivated. The total annual yield from these plantations ranges between 800,000 and 1,000,000 tonnes, Silot added.

On February 7, 2025 the Government said it is in the process of developing a cashew industrial park to boost the country’s cashew sector. This initiative, which marks the establishment of the nation’s first cashew industrial park, is set to take place in Kampong Thom province.

Prime Minister Hun Manet announced that Kampong Thom province will be developed into Cambodia’s central cashew industrial park, in a move aimed at positioning the Kingdom as a global leader in cashew production.

Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Cambodian People’s Party CPP building in Kampong Thom province on July 3, the Prime Minister highlighted the Government’s long-term vision to transform Cambodia into a “cashew emperor” on the world stage.

Kampong Thom will serve as the national Cashew Industrial Park (CIP), consolidating processing factories of various sizes and supported by state-backed infrastructure, he said, adding that the park will act as a processing and distribution centre for cashew crops harvested from Kampong Thom and surrounding provinces, such as Preah Vihear, Kampong Cham and Siem Reap.

“To achieve this ambitious goal, the government has outlined strategic plans to build necessary infrastructure and attract both local and foreign investors to Kampong Thom,” Hun Manet stated.

The Prime Minister also called on provincial authorities to support the development by offering land to investors at low rental costs, or even providing land free, where feasible. This is intended to accelerate the establishment of the industrial park and boost production capacity.

On September 30, CAC was invited as a key speaker at a high-level agribusiness roundtable hosted by the US Embassy in Phnom Penh. The event brought together stakeholders to explore investment opportunities and address challenges within Cambodia’s agricultural sector, with a focus on engaging US companies in the country’s growing agribusiness market.

The CAC report said that the embassy emphasised the value of stakeholders’ insights in shaping potential US partnerships in Cambodia’s vital agribusiness sector.

Suy Kokthean, CAC Vice President, highlighted Cambodia’s impressive raw cashew nut export performance. Based on unofficial figures, Cambodia exported 964,000 metric tonnes in the first eight months of 2025, earning an estimated $1.4 billion.

However, the CAC statement noted that Cambodia’s limited cashew processing capacity prevents the country from capturing the full value of its cashew industry. “With greater investment in local processing facilities, Cambodia could boost its cashew export revenue by up to 120 percent,” it said.

One major issue raised is the waste of cashew apples, which are commonly discarded on farms despite their potential. “Cashew apples can be processed into animal feed, vinegar, and liquor,” Kothean added. “But without technical and financial support, farmers are unable to make use of this valuable resource.”

CAC is seeking investment in cashew by-product development, including Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL), Cashew Nut Shell Extract (CNSE), cashew apple processing and cashew juice production. These innovations could not only reduce food waste and production costs, but also make Cambodian cashew products more competitive on the international market.

“We would greatly value the stakeholders’ perspectives on key areas for collaboration, emerging opportunities and strategic priorities that could guide US investment and partnership in this vital sector,” the US Embassy stated.

According to EuroCham Cambodia, 96 percent of all Cambodian cashew nuts exports were directed to Vietnam. Vietnam is the world’s largest exporter of cashew nuts, and often processes and re-exports them.

EuroCham Cambodia also reported that Cambodian producers and exporters have much to gain by cutting out intermediaries and directly approaching end markets in the European Union. “Cambodia is very much aware of its potential in the cashew industry,” it said.

Cambodia has become the world’s second-largest producer of raw cashew nuts, according to the CAC report.

Source: Kampong Thom Crowned Cambodia’s Largest Cashew Production Hub | Kiripost