Recently, the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) released a report showing that from January to October 2022, Cambodia exported a total of 325,859.72 tons of fresh bananas, a year-on-year decrease of 11.79%, of which 89.93% were exported to China.

Statistics show that from January to October, Cambodian bananas were only exported to 3 countries, of which 293,060.39 tons were exported to China, a year-on-year decrease of 9.33%; 32,799.23 tons were exported to Vietnam, a year-on-year decrease of 27.39%; 0.1 tons were exported to Japan, a year-on-year decrease of 99.98%.

Hun Lak, head of Longmate Agriculture Co Ltd, a Cambodian banana plantation and export company, said that the main reason for the decline in exports to China is that China's epidemic prevention policy restricts the movement of people and goods, and the recommended standards are also stricter. Although China has relaxed the control, banana exports are still in trouble, and fresh mango exports are also in trouble. At the same time, Hun Lak believes that after the real reopening of the Chinese market, the situation of Cambodian banana exports will improve.

In 2021, Cambodia exported a total of 423,168.97 tons of fresh bananas, an increase of more than 27% over 2020. China accounted for the largest share at 376,961 tons, followed by Vietnam (45,193 tons), Japan (533.52 tons) and Singapore (480.48 tons).