Cambodia can now ship fresh durians to China after over 100 farms, packing facilities approved

The farms and packing facilities were evaluated by China’s General Administration of Customs and met Good Agricultural Practices, phytosanitary requirements, and Chinese food safety standards, according to a statement from Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries last Friday evening.

"This milestone is the result of strong cooperation between Cambodia and China in the field of agricultural trade," the ministry noted.

Durians in Cambodia. Photo from King of Durian Farm Community's Facebook

The two countries previously signed a phytosanitary protocol allowing the export of the fruit, along with swiftlet nests and crocodiles, in late April during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Cambodia.

In its statement, the agriculture ministry urged durian growers and related businesses to maintain quality and sustainability and to submit their registration applications to the General Directorate of Agriculture if they seek export access.

It also reminded farms and packing facilities to follow the protocol’s requirements and keep products free of harmful contaminants, pesticide residues, and banned substances, according to The Phnom Penh Post.

With the latest export approval, fresh durian is now the ninth Cambodian product to secure direct access to the Chinese market after rice, paddy, bananas, cassava chips, corn, longan, mangoes, and pepper.

China ranks among the largest importers of Cambodian agricultural goods and the largest consumer of durian.

Last year, it imported US$6.99 billion worth of durians, with Thailand accounting for $4 billion, or 57% of the market, and Vietnam supplying $2.9 billion for a 41.5% share.

The Philippines and Malaysia trailed with $32.5 million and $5.7 million, respectively. Malaysia had only entered China’s fresh durian market last year.

Cambodia has over 5,000 hectares under durian that produced more than 36,000 tons of the fruit in 2024. Kampot province leads the country in planting area.

Khim Bunlene, founder and president of the King of Durian Farm Community in Kampot, said Cambodian farmers must prioritize improvements in taste, safety, and pricing if they want to export the pungent fruit to other markets, especially China.

"These are the key factors that will allow Cambodian durian to succeed in the market sustainably, not just for one farm but for the entire country," he said, as quoted by the Khmer Times.