During my recent trip back to Taiwan, I attended a seminar on Taiwanese investment in Cambodian agriculture.
Here are some interesting facts I picked up about Cambodian cashews:
1. One-Third of the Cashews Sold in Vietnam Are From Cambodia
Vietnam is the world’s largest exporter of processed cashews, importing huge volumes of raw cashews each year from countries like Ivory Coast and Cambodia.
2. Cambodia Was Once the World’s Top Cashew Producer
However, due to a lack of local processing capabilities, raw cashews held low value and were largely controlled by downstream processors in Vietnam.
As a result, production volume has steadily declined over the past five years.
Today, the Ivory Coast ranks first, followed by India.
3. Cambodia Exports Raw Cashews at $1,200/ton—Vietnam Sells Them Processed at $5,500/ton
This massive difference shows how value is added through processing—a clear gap Cambodia is aiming to close.
4. Investment in Local Processing Is on the Rise
More companies from China, Japan, and Taiwan are now investing in agricultural processing equipment in Cambodia.
There is strong optimism that Cambodia will soon be able to export its own processed cashews and capture a much larger share of the profit.
Slow and Steady, Wealth is Ready!
#yen
