Cambodia expects that the visit of a Cambodian private sector delegation to the US will help boost its export market, particularly for agricultural products. In the first eight months of 2024, the total trade volume between the two countries reached nearly $7 billion.

A press release from the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) on September 17 announced that CCC vice-president Tan Monivann will lead representatives from over 50 Cambodian companies on a business mission to Long Beach, California from September 17-21 to attend the 2024 US-Cambodia Business Matchmaking Summit.

According to the CCC, the mission will include presentations on market trends, regulatory compliance and logistical systems – key information for Cambodian entrepreneurs aiming to enter the American market. Major products that Cambodia will showcase at the meeting include rice, pepper, cashew nuts, fruit preserves, ginger, cassava, fish sauce, salt and frozen products such as longan and durian.

The delegation will also visit supermarkets and product distribution companies in the US to better understand demand and supply chain logistics, the chamber added.

On September 19, CCC director-general Nguon Mengtech told The Post from the US that the chamber has conducted similar programmes multiple times since 2011. He said each meeting typically involves discussions on enhancing Cambodian exports, particularly agricultural products, to the US market.

“We hope this meeting will yield positive results for exporting Cambodian products to the American market, especially as trade between the two countries has been steadily increasing,” he said.

According to the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE), trade between Cambodia and the US totaled $6.92 billion from January to August, reflecting a 10.4% increase compared to the $6.27 billion recorded during the same period in 2023. 

Of this, Cambodian exports stood at $6.75 billion, up 10.4%, while imports from the US amounted to $173.79 million, up 8.3%. 

The US is Cambodia's second-largest trading partner after China.

Phot Saphanborey, board director and chief of Pechenda Fruit Production PFP Co Ltd, which specialises in processing and exporting agricultural products like longan to international markets, told The Post that exporting fresh and frozen fruits to the US would be an excellent opportunity for Cambodia. 

However, he said the main challenge is the long transportation time due to the distance between the two countries.

“Some companies are interested in Cambodian products for the US and Canada markets, such as longan and durian, but as far as we know, official exports have not yet begun,” he said.

Saphanborey also encouraged fruit growers to focus on selecting varieties, cultivation methods, maintenance, harvesting and packaging to ensure high quality that meets the standards of purchasing companies.