Cambodia’s Banana Exports Jump 17% on Strong Demand from China, Japan

PHNOM PENH, Jan 27, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia earned more than $178 million from fresh banana exports in 2025, a 16.8 percent rise from $152 million the previous year, the Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday.

The growth was fueled by surging demand in key Asian markets, particularly China and Japan, which continue to absorb the bulk of Cambodia’s shipments.

Export volume reached 343,577 tons last year, up nearly 30 percent year-on-year, reflecting both expanded production and robust overseas demand, according to ministry figures.

Khim Finan, spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, said exports have grown steadily thanks to rising confidence in the quality and consistency of Cambodian produce

At the plantation level, exporters are working at full capacity to meet demand. Heng Davy, general manager of Long Sreng Company, said the firm harvests between 6,000 and 7,000 banana bunches daily for export packaging.

“On average, we ship at least three containers per day, and during peak demand this can reach up to ten containers,” she said, noting most shipments go to China and Japan, with only a small share sold domestically.

Cambodia currently has more than 16,000 hectares of banana plantations, of which over 11,000 hectares are actively harvested. Major growing provinces include Ratanakiri, Kratie, Stung Treng, Kampot, Kampong Cham and Kampong Speu.

The expansion of banana exports comes amid broader momentum in the agricultural sector. The Ministry of Agriculture said Cambodia generated nearly $5 billion from exporting about 15 million tons of agricultural products in 2025, a 27.8 percent increase from the previous year.