By:
• Chhum Chantha

• May 11, 2024 , 5:20 PM

PHNOM PENH — Cambodia exported 30 tons of black pepper to China in April 2024, the first time that Cambodian pepper was being shipped to that market.

The container was shipped by the Cambodian company Sela Pepper on April 20, Anna Cai, director of the company, said on May 10.

According to her, this was a happy moment for Cambodian pepper farmers to have their product enter the Chinese market. “It was a great and remarkable achievement, a happy time for Cambodian pepper farmers, and especially for Sela Pepper,” she said. “I would like to thank all the farmers.”

Chinese Embassy announced on May, 2023 that the pepper was authorized to be exported in accordance with the requirements of Chinese Customs, Cai said, adding that Sela Pepper was in a position to meet the needs of Chinese customers.

Mak Ny, president of the Cambodian Pepper and Spices Federation, said that this pepper shipment to China had created a new market for Cambodian products, which was good news for growers and exporters in the country.

“This is a positive sign for Cambodia that new markets and exports in large quantities can happen,” he said. “This is good for both growers and exporters.”

By 2023, Cambodia had about 7,205 hectares of pepper plantations in 10 provinces. The provinces with the largest pepper growing areas are Kampong Thom, Mondulkiri, Pursat, Ratanakiri and Tboung Khmum provinces.

According to data from the General Department of Agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, during the first 11 months of 2023, Cambodia exported nearly 6,000 tons of pepper to international markets. The countries that bought the most pepper from Cambodia were Vietnam, followed by Germany and the United States.    

 

Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this article was translated by Torn Chanritheara for Cambodianess.