China to import durian, crocodile from Cambodia

The deals were among 37 protocols signed last week spanning multiple sectors, including investment, trade, education, finance and agriculture.

Opened durians seen on a table. Photo by Unsplash/Jim Teo

Suy Kokthean, president of the Khmer Swiftlet Association, hailed the protocol for exporting swiftlet nests to China as a pivotal achievement and a driver for attracting more investors to the processing and export sectors.

He encouraged swiftlet nest conservationists to upgrade their swiftlet houses to comply with required standards, allowing them to register for exports to China, as reported by local media.

"I have already reviewed the protocol signed by Cambodia and China, and I believe it is a major step forward for Cambodia’s swiftlet sub-sector."

"It opens new opportunities for processors, exporters, and other investors to come to Cambodia to organize collection, processing, and export operations to China," he said, adding that swiftlet nest products are highly sought after in China.

In a conversation with the Khmer Times, Kokthean revealed that Cambodia is also eyeing other export markets, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, though these are smaller compared to China’s substantial demand.

"I believe that in the coming years, the supply of Cambodian swiftlet nests to international markets may fall short, as demand from China is exceptionally high," he said.

While official figures are not yet available, Kokthean estimates that Cambodia currently has over 5,000 swiftlet houses, yielding around 100 tonnes of nests annually.

Kong Mey, vice president of the Crocodile Breeders’ Community in Siem Reap province, also expressed enthusiasm for the protocol enabling the export of Cambodian-bred crocodiles to China.

He described it as encouraging news for crocodile breeders in Siem Reap and nationwide. If successfully implemented, the agreement could drive stronger growth and better results for Cambodia’s crocodile market compared to previous years, he said, as cited by Khmer Times.

Im Rachna, Under Secretary of State and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, explained that the ministry’s expert team has been collecting crocodile samples for disease analysis.

If Cambodian-raised crocodiles are confirmed free of diseases or viruses banned by Chinese customs authorities, exports can proceed as planned.

On Monday, Prime Minister Hun Manet directed leaders of relevant ministries and institutions to simplify procedures and minimize delays to expand export pathways for Cambodian products.

"When Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Cambodia, we discussed how to accelerate efforts to open more export channels for Cambodian agricultural products to China," Manet said.

Cambodia exported over 12 million tonnes of crop products to 95 countries in 2024, generating approximately $5.3 billion in revenue, according to official figures.

The agricultural sector contributed roughly 16.7% to the country’s GDP.