Cambodia Fruits And Vegetables Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The Cambodia fruits and vegetables market size stands at USD 3.20 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 4.30 billion by 2030, at a 6.10% CAGR over the forecast period. Solid government support for irrigation, preferential trade terms under the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement, and urban consumers’ stronger preference for balanced diets underpin this expansion. Cold-chain investments along the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville expressway and the July 2025 opening of Techo International Airport’s cargo hub are lowering spoilage rates and widening export windows, especially for high-value mangoes and leafy greens. Growing e-commerce platforms, backed by UNDP’s digital onboarding of 1,200 smallholder farms, shorten distribution chains and improve farmgate returns. At the same time, pesticide-residue compliance pressures and rural labor shortages temper growth but have spurred adoption of GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) protocols and mechanization pilots in key provinces.
Key Report Takeaways
By crop type, fruits held 58% of the Cambodia fruits and vegetables market share in 2024, while vegetables posted the fastest 9.6% CAGR through 2030.
Cambodia Fruits And Vegetables Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
| Driver | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rising domestic demand for healthy diets | +1.2% | National, concentrated in Phnom Penh and urban centers | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Government subsidies for irrigation expansion | +0.9% | Rural provinces, notably Battambang and Kampong Cham | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Preferential export tariffs under China–Cambodia FTA | +1.1% | National, strongest in mango-growing regions | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Cold-chain corridors along Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville Expressway | +0.7% | Central and southern provinces | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Agritech e-marketplaces connecting farmers to urban retailers | +0.6% | National, early adoption in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| GAP certification programs unlocking premium Asian outlets | +0.4% | Export-oriented provinces, especially Battambang | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Rising Domestic Demand for Healthy Diets
Urban income gains and health campaigns are shifting Cambodians toward higher fresh-produce intake. The 2021-22 Demographic and Health Survey found that overweight prevalence among women rose from 18% in 2014 to 33% in 2021-22, triggering a consumer pivot to fruits and vegetables. Urban households nowadays devote 23% of food budgets to produce versus 16% for rural households. Retailers in Phnom Penh report double-digit growth in refrigerated produce sections, incentivizing import displacement with local supply. This trend supports steady off-season demand, smoothing revenue for farmers adopting protected cultivation.
Government Subsidies for Irrigation Expansion
The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology backed 2,300 new irrigation systems in 2024 with USD 45 million in grants, expanding cultivated land for fruits and vegetables by 15%[1]Source: Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, “Irrigation Infrastructure Development Report 2024,” mowram.gov.kh. The scheme stabilizes water availability, enabling year-round planting that cuts seasonal volatility and raises yields by 18% on demo plots. Asian Development Bank’s USD 120 million Phase II funding, approved in April 2025, extends canals and drip systems targeting vegetable clusters[2]Source: Asian Development Bank, “Cambodia Agricultural Value Chain Competitiveness Project,” adb.org. Steadier output boosts contract-farming attractiveness for processors and exporters, anchoring raw-material supply to meet FTA-driven demand. Enhanced water security also facilitates crop diversification, allowing farmers to shift from subsistence rice production to higher-value horticultural crops that command premium prices in domestic and export markets.
Preferential Export Tariffs Under China–Cambodia FTA
China’s zero-tariff import window for mangoes, bananas, and durians propelled Cambodia's fresh-mango exports up 78% in 2024 compared with 2023 [3]Source: China-Cambodia FTA Secretariat, “Mango Export Review 2024,” ccfta.gov.kh. Chinese buyers bypass intermediaries, lifting farmgate prices 25% and driving GAP certification enrollment to 15,000 hectares. Simplified phytosanitary inspections shorten transit by two days, cutting loss rates. Three new Chinese-funded plants, announced in 2024, add 28,000 metric tons of pulp and dried-fruit capacity, anchoring higher-value processing at origin.
Cold-Chain Corridors Along Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville Expressway
Strategic cold-chain infrastructure development along the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville expressway transforms post-harvest logistics capabilities, reducing spoilage rates from 35% to 18% for temperature-sensitive produce. The corridor features twelve new refrigerated warehouses with 45,000-metric tons capacity, enabling farmers in interior provinces to access export markets efficiently. Private fleet operators expanded refrigerated trucks by 40% in 2024 to service both export consolidation points and urban retailers. Alignment with Techo International Airport’s cargo hub, operational since July 2025, opens premium Asian outlets reachable within 24 hours. Growers of berries, lettuce, and herbs nowadays capture prices 30% above domestic wet-market levels owing to extended shelf life.
Restraints Impact Analysis
| Restraint | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seasonal production peaks causing price volatility | -1.4% | Nationwide, most severe in northern provinces | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Limited mechanization and smallholder plot size | -0.8% | Rural areas, notably Battambang and Kampong Cham | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Pesticide-residue rejections in key export markets | -0.6% | Export-focused provinces | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Youth labor migration leading to farm-labor shortages | -0.5% | Remote rural provinces | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Seasonal Production Peaks cause Price Volatility
Cambodia's tropical monsoon climate creates pronounced seasonal production cycles that generate extreme price volatility, with some vegetables experiencing price swings exceeding 150% between harvest peaks and scarcity periods. The 2024 harvest season saw tomato prices fluctuate from USD 0.45 per kilogram during peak supply in November to USD 1.15 per kilogram in March, creating income uncertainty for farmers and supply chain disruptions for processors. Limited storage infrastructure exacerbates the problem, forcing farmers to sell immediately at harvest regardless of market conditions. This volatility particularly affects smallholder farmers who lack financial buffers to withstand price troughs, often forcing distress sales that perpetuate the cycle of market instability.
Limited Mechanization and Smallholder Plot Size
Cambodia agricultural sector remains characterized by small-scale farming operations with average plot sizes of 0.87 hectares, constraining mechanization adoption and limiting productivity gains compared to regional competitors. The Cambodia Agriculture Survey 2021 revealed that only 12% of vegetable farmers utilize mechanical equipment beyond basic hand tools, significantly below Vietnam's 45% mechanization rate. Fragmented holdings complicate shared-equipment models, leaving labor-intensive operations with costs up to 40% higher than Vietnam’s mechanized counterparts. Credit access remains thin, with average loan tickets under USD 1,500, well below the USD 6,000 needed for a two-wheel tractor. These structural constraints slow productivity gains needed to meet rising domestic and export demand
Segment Analysis
By Crop Type: Fruits Sustain Market Leadership
The Cambodia fruits and vegetables market size is being shaped by shifting demand patterns and infrastructure improvements. Fruits account for 58% of the Cambodia fruits and vegetables market share in 2024, supported by strong domestic consumption and trade preferences with China. The fruit segment benefits from cross-crop diversification, while advances in cold-chain infrastructure enable the cultivation of berries and salad greens. Processors are increasingly developing mixed-juice blends to balance raw material requirements, while exporters optimize container loads with assorted fruit shipments. Additionally, crop cooperatives are collaborating to improve bargaining power for inputs and logistics.
The vegetables segment is expanding at a 9.6% CAGR, generating higher volumes but lower revenue per metric ton due to shorter shelf life and spoilage risks. Highland potato cultivation is on the rise to supply urban fast-food chains and snack processors, offering new income streams for mountain farmers. Moreover, the vegetable segment, particularly exotic leafy varieties, holds the potential to surpass overall market growth with continued improvements in cold-chain infrastructure.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
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Geography Analysis
Battambang’s 28.4% share underscores its status as Cambodia's agricultural engine. Productivity exceeds national averages by 40% due to contiguous flat lands suited for mechanization and matched with reliable canal irrigation. Cold-store capacity increases in 2024 trimmed post-harvest loss from 28% to 15%, allowing farmers to target off-peak windows with higher margins. Export-oriented clusters benefit from collective packing houses that meet Chinese and Asian protocols. Labor scarcity, however, is intensifying, forcing wages upward and nudging farmers toward small-scale mechanization loans.
Siem Reap holds an 18.7% market share, leveraging tourism industry demand and international development support to establish premium positioning strategies. The province's focus on sustainable agriculture attracts significant donor funding, with Heifer International's vegetable value chain project supporting 800 smallholder farmers through cooperative formation and market linkage development. The province also pilots agritourism tours, linking cultural heritage with farm experiences to elevate awareness of sustainable practices.
The Phnom Penh-Kandal urban axis contributes 16.2% of value despite minimal acreage, due to intensive greenhouse and vertical farm projects geared toward high-value herbs and salad greens. Proximity to retailers ensures 24-hour harvest-to-shelf cycles, and year-round microclimate control supports premium positioning. Kampong Cham’s 14.1% share stems from mixed orchard-vegetable systems and proximity to national highways that lower transport costs. Border provinces collectively hold 22.6%, carving niches in dragon fruit and passion fruit supplied to Vietnam and Thailand. Enhanced expressway links and customs facilitation promise to unlock further trade for these regions, gradually balancing national supply.
Recent Industry Developments
- June 2025: The Cambodian Government allocated a special budget of USD 35 million in a stimulus package to support low-interest loans for modern fruit and vegetable farming communities from 2025 to 2027. This initiative focuses on developing modern agricultural communities across provinces, targeting vegetables and other high-potential crops, including cashews and pepper, across 1,421 hectares.
- July 2024: The Green Climate Fund (GCF) approved a USD 240 million program, Climate Adaptive Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture for Resilience (CAISAR), to strengthen Cambodia's fruit and vegetable production through climate-resilient agricultural practices. The program will benefit 560,000 people directly through improved irrigation systems across 32,000 hectares and provide indirect flood protection to more than one million people.
- February 2023: The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) established a USD 194 million financing agreement with Cambodia. This agreement supports the Agriculture Services Programme for an Inclusive Rural Economy and Agricultural Trade (ASPIRE-AT) project, which includes fruit and vegetable production, to promote sustainable agricultural growth in rural areas.
Cambodia Fruits And Vegetables Market Report Scope
Vegetables are the edible portion of a plant that are usually grouped according to the portion of the plant that is eaten, such as leaves (lettuce), stem (celery), roots (carrot), tubers (potato), bulbs (onion) and flowers (broccoli). For the purpose of analysis, only fresh fruits and vegetables are considered. A fruit is a mature ovary of a seed plant, usually developed from a flower. Cambodia's fruits & vegetables market is analyzed by production (volume), consumption (volume & value), imports (volume & value), exports (volume & value), and price trend analysis. The report offers the market size and forecasts in terms of volume (metric tons) and value (USD) for all the above segments.
By Crop Type (Production Analysis (Volume), Consumption Analysis (Volume and Value), Import Analysis (Volume and Value), Export Analysis (Volume and Value), and Price Trend Analysis)
| Fruits |
| Vegetables |
| By Crop Type (Production Analysis (Volume), Consumption Analysis (Volume and Value), Import Analysis (Volume and Value), Export Analysis (Volume and Value), and Price Trend Analysis) | Fruits |
| Vegetables |
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Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the current value of the Cambodia fruits and vegetables market?
The market is valued at USD 3.20 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 4.30 billion by 2030.
Which crop segment is growing fastest?
Vegetables are expanding at a 9.6% CAGR through 2030, the fastest among all crops.
Why is Battambang province important for produce supply?
Battambang provides 28.4% of national output, supported by extensive irrigation and cold-storage facilities that boost yields and reduce spoilage.
What role does the China-Cambodia FTA play in exports?
The FTA eliminates tariffs on key fruits, notably mangoes, boosting export volumes and improving farmgate prices by 25%.
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