China to Buy 1 Million Tons of Cambodian Dried Cassava Annually, Boosting Export Market

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Dec. 1, 2025) — A major Chinese state-owned enterprise will purchase one million tons of Cambodian dried cassava each year, a deal expected to significantly strengthen Cambodia’s export market as farmers struggle with low prices.

Suy Kokthean, vice president of the Cambodia Cassava Association, said the company plans to establish a collection and drying hub in Kampong Thom province, with shipments routed through Sihanoukville Autonomous Port.

The firm already operates a large storage facility in Sihanoukville and is now seeking higher-quality cassava suitable for food processing in China, moving beyond lower-grade supplies previously used for ethanol and animal feed.

The agreement comes as Cambodia’s cassava sector shifts toward processed exports. Fresh cassava shipments have declined, while dried cassava and cassava starch exports surged by 60.9% and 82.6% respectively in the first 10 months of 2025, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Despite rising demand for processed cassava, farmers continue to face price pressures, with fresh cassava selling for as little as 150 riels per kilogram in some provinces. The main harvest season begins in January 2026, when supply is expected to increase.

In 2024, Cambodia exported more than 3 million tons of fresh cassava, nearly 1 million tons of dried cassava and over 60,000 tons of cassava starch, generating $728 million.