Six Cambodian plants prepare dried longan exports to China

PHNOM PENH, June 9, 2026 (KPT) – Six Cambodian processing plants are preparing to export dried longan to China after new trade protocols granted market access for the value‑added crop, officials said Monday.

Agriculture Ministry spokesman Khim Finan said Cambodia submitted a formal request to China’s General Administration of Customs in August 2025 and secured approval this month after nearly a year of negotiations. The breakthrough followed the signing of two sanitary and phytosanitary protocols on June 3 by Agriculture Minister Dith Tina and Chinese Customs Minister Sun Meijun.

Finan said dried longan exports represent a significant opportunity for Cambodia’s fruit industry. While fresh longan shipments to China are already established, dried longan offers higher value, longer shelf life and helps absorb surplus harvests, easing oversupply and stabilising prices for farmers.

Two of the six facilities preparing for registration are in Battambang province and four in Pailin. The General Directorate of Agronomy will conduct assessments and submit documentation to Chinese authorities before inspections and final approval.

Officials said the initiative is part of a broader strategy to expand market access, promote agro‑processing and create economic opportunities for farmers. Cambodia earned nearly $40 million from fresh Pailin longan exports in 2025, up 23 percent from the previous year, with volumes rising more than 31 percent to 32,963 tonnes, driven largely by Chinese demand.