In total, Cambodia imported around 38,000 metric tons of tuna and other seafood products worth over US$61 million to meet domestic demand during the period, according to a report by the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce.
China was the second-largest supplier, with shipments worth over $16 million. Imports from other markets, including Hong Kong, Australia, France, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia, totaled around $10 million.
Pen Sovicheat, Secretary of State and Spokesperson for the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce, said Cambodia imports a wide range of seafood products for domestic consumption, including tuna, chilled shrimp, squid, frozen seafood, clams and scallops.
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Fishermen transport tuna in Da Nang City. Photo by Read/Van Dong |
Despite being a major seafood importer, Cambodia also exports locally caught seafood. It exported more than 1,200 tonnes in the first half to markets including mainland China, India, the U.S., South Korea, Japan, France and Canada, earning more than $1 million.
Cambodian seafood exports include processed products such as fish cakes, shrimp cakes and fish roe, as well as other seafood products.
The Cambodian Ministry of Commerce is also promoting the registration of a geographical indication (GI) for crabs from Kep province. The initiative aims to commercialize the local seafood specialty, enhance its competitiveness in domestic and international markets, and boost the local economy.
In the longer term, it is expected to support Cambodia’s seafood exports, particularly Kep crabs, while strengthening the coastal province’s position as a leading destination for tourists and seafood lovers.
