Fresh banana exports to China lift incomes in NW Cambodia’s border province

**Fresh Banana Exports to China Boost Incomes in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey Province**

*Oddar Meanchey, Cambodia – 31 August 2026* – Exports of fresh yellow Cavendish bananas to China are raising household incomes in the north‑western province of Oddar Meanchey, according to local workers and officials.

The bananas are grown by Longfruiter Anlong Veng Oddar Meanchey Agriculture Park Co., Ltd., a plantation located near the Thai border in Anlong Veng district. The company cultivates roughly 530 hectares of the yellow Cavendish variety and employs more than 800 residents.

**Improved livelihoods**

Lak Sineth, a 29‑year‑old single mother who began working at the plantation in 2022, said the job has transformed her financial situation. “After coming to work at this banana plantation, I could afford my own land and other valuable possessions,” she told Xinhua. “My life has been much better than before.”

Cheat Chumpou, a 24‑year‑old banana washer, echoed the sentiment. She described her previous life with her farmer parents as “hand‑to‑mouth” and credited the stable wages at the factory with improving her family’s finances. “I want to thank the Chinese investors for investing in Cambodia. It has created many jobs and made life much better for Cambodian people,” Chumpou said.

**Production and export growth**

Oeun Samkeary, the plantation’s 30‑year‑old production manager, noted that the yellow Cavendish banana is distinguished by its quality and taste compared with other local varieties. He reported that export volumes to China have risen from 24,000 tonnes in 2024 to more than 34,000 tonnes in 2025. In 2026, the company has already shipped 22,000 tonnes to the Chinese market and expects further growth as cultivation areas expand.

**China’s role in the sector**

Thong Mengdavid, deputy director of the China‑ASEAN Studies Center at the Cambodia University of Technology and Science, said China is the primary market for Cambodia’s fresh banana trade, accounting for roughly 95 % of the country’s total fresh yellow banana exports. “Access to China’s massive consumer base has transformed local banana farming into a modern, export‑driven agribusiness,” he told Xinhua. “This generates stable year‑round employment, facilitates technology transfers, and upgrades infrastructure for thousands of rural farming communities.”

Yellow bananas are among five Cambodian fresh fruits that currently enjoy direct access to the Chinese market, alongside mangoes, Pailin longans, coconuts and durians.

**Outlook**

Industry observers anticipate that continued demand from China and the expansion of cultivated area will sustain the upward trajectory of banana exports for the remainder of 2026, further supporting employment and income levels in Oddar Meanchey and other rural provinces.

Article and image source: cambodiantimes.com