Local Tycoon invests $10 million in organic fertilizer plant to cut costs, reduce imports

PHNOM PENH, June 15, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodian tycoon Mong Reththy is investing about $10 million in a new organic fertilizer plant in Kampong Speu province, aiming to lower farming costs and reduce the country’s reliance on imports, officials said Monday.

The factory, now under construction, is expected to begin trial production later this year with a capacity of 100 tonnes per day. It will recycle agricultural and industrial waste — including livestock manure and by‑products from palm oil mills, sugar factories and breweries — into processed organic fertilizer.

Reththy said the project would help farmers cut input costs and improve profitability. “When production costs decrease, fertilizer prices can be sold at more competitive rates, benefiting farmers and consumers alike,” he said.

Cambodia has long depended on imported fertilizers, making domestic production increasingly vital for food security and self‑sufficiency. The plant will use technology purchased from a Chinese company with nearly a century of industry experience, though the project is wholly owned and operated by Reththy’s firm.

Officials said advanced processing will ensure higher‑quality fertilizer while eliminating pathogens and weed seeds often found in untreated manure. Reththy acknowledged demand far exceeds the plant’s output, noting that “even if there were ten more factories like this, it still would not be enough to meet the needs of the domestic market.”

For now, the priority is supplying Cambodia’s farmers rather than exports. Once operational, the plant is expected to create jobs, strengthen local supply chains and support the country’s push toward sustainable agriculture.