Japan Eyes Cambodia’s Cashew Industry as Agro-Processing Investment Hub

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Dec. 16, 2025) — Japan is looking to Cambodia’s fast‑growing cashew sector as a new destination for agro‑processing investment, with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) working to connect Japanese companies with local producers and processors.

On Dec. 15, JETRO met with the Cambodia Cashew Association to discuss plans for a study tour in March 2026. The visit will include cashew plantations, processing factories and the Cashew Industrial Park in Kampong Thom province to assess production capacity and investment potential.

JETRO officials said Cambodia’s high‑quality cashew supply and competitive incentives, including Qualified Investment Project schemes, make the country attractive for Japanese food‑processing firms seeking stable and cost‑efficient operations.

Cambodian representatives pointed to large‑scale farmers and agricultural communities as potential long‑term partners, adding that contract farming and business‑matching efforts are being strengthened to ensure reliable raw material supply.

The initiative supports Cambodia’s National Cashew Policy 2022–2027, which aims to boost domestic processing and add value to agricultural exports. Cambodia exported nearly 965,000 tonnes of raw cashew nuts worth about $1.4 billion in the first eight months of 2025, up 25 percent from a year earlier.