Cambodia Exports Two Tonnes of Mantis Shrimp in Two Months
Cambodia has significantly increased its export of live mantis shrimp to China, reaching the total of two tonnes in the first two months of this year. Photo: Ministry of Agriculture
- By Chhum Chantha
- March 15, 2024 4:10 PM
PHNOM PENH— Cambodia has significantly increased its export of live mantis shrimp to China, reaching the total of two tonnes in the first two months of this year.
The country transported 45kg of live mantis shrimp to China in September 2023 as a trial. Last year, one tonne of the shrimp was exported to China.
The figure reached 2,100kg for January-February, said Khim Finan, spokesperson of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. They were exported by the Cambodia Tienit International Trading group.
“We also exported products other than mantis shrimp such as 200kg of live eels and frozen freshwater shrimps,” Khim Finan said.
Live mantis shrimp are popular for cooking in restaurants. They need to be flown to China and inspected by Chinese customs to make sure all are alive.
While the export procedure is complicated, the outcome would become the necessary standard basis for exporting this and other fishery products in large quantities to China, Finan said.
Cambodia reached an export agreement for aquatic products with China in 2023. Cambodia must also meet conditions such as food safety principles, packaging and techniques to keep the shrimp alive.
Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this article was translated by Nhor Sokhoeurn for Cambodianess.
