Cambodia Races Toward Dairy Self-Sufficiency as New Investments Target Import Gap

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Dec. 18, 2025) — Cambodia is accelerating plans to build a self-sufficient dairy industry, with new investments and foreign partnerships set to boost fresh milk production and cut reliance on imports within the next three years, industry leaders said Thursday.

Te Taing Por, chairman of the Federation of Associations of Small and Medium Enterprises of Cambodia, said rising demand is driving the launch of three to four new dairy companies, each expected to establish large-scale cattle farms and production chains. “Fresh milk has become a strategic commodity, but current local production remains far below national demand,” he said.

Cambodia consumes about 100,000 liters of fresh milk daily, but domestic producers supply only 20,000 liters, according to industry data. Demand has surged further after Cambodian consumers reduced purchases of Thai products, pushing local market share from 5 percent to 25 percent.

Foreign partnerships are playing a key role. Malaysia’s Farm Fresh Berhad recently signed an agreement with Cambodia’s Alpha Group to develop dairy farms and processing facilities. Leading producers such as Kirisu Farm in Takeo Province plan to import more cattle to raise output to 30,000–40,000 liters per day within a year.

Officials say the expansion marks a critical step toward food security, rural economic growth and positioning dairy as a pillar of Cambodia’s agri-industrial future.