Cambodia can now directly export yellow bananas to China, without relying on Vietnam as an intermediary, a Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announcement said.
The General Directorate of Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on Monday announced that to send bananas directly to the Chinese market, exporters must comply with certain requirements.
These include proper packaging in English and Chinese languages with clear labelling of the export company’s name, product name, farm registration code and packaging plant registration code. Exports must also have a sanitary and phytosanitary certificate.
There are currently five companies in Cambodia investing in five banana plantations that are licensed to export the product to China. Exports were previously made through Vietnam.
Hun Lak, the director of Longmate Agriculture Co Ltd, one of the five companies authorised to export bananas to China, told The Post that obtaining direct export rights to China is an opportunity that will lower transportation costs and shipping times for the Cambodian banana industry.
He said it would make the Kingdom’s banana prices more competitive in international markets. However, he did not disclose the export value of bananas being exported.
“I can say that it’s a good image for Cambodia – exporting fresh fruit to the Chinese market,” he said.
He said his company needs about two weeks to prepare for its first direct export to China.
Lak said direct exports from Cambodia to China can take nine to 10 days. Properly stocked bananas can remain in good quality for about six weeks.
Longmate Agriculture last year announced a $32 million investment in a yellow banana plantation on more than 1,000ha in Kampot province’s Chhouk district.
The company is currently investing in the first phase by planting bananas on over 400ha. It exports between one and two containers of bananas to China through Vietnam per day.
