This is a golden time for Cambodia to strengthen its own capacity to supply its own fruit and vegetable market and free itself from foreign dependence.
The tension that led to the unilateral border restrictions imposed by Thailand on June 7, 2025, leading to the ban on the import of Thai fruit and vegetables into the country 10 days later, is an opportunity for local fruit and vegetable traders and growers to seize this opportunity together to strengthen and expand market potential. To reduce the demand or dependence on products from neighboring countries.
Do not underestimate the size and demand of this vegetable and fruit market. In fact, according to some scientific documents, a person needs to eat about 400 grams of vegetables and fruits per day, but for Cambodians, they may not eat that much. According to experts who have previously mentioned, the demand for vegetables in Cambodia is approximately in the range of 400 to 500 tons per day, and fruits are also likely to be in this range.
Today, Cambodia imports part of these vegetables and fruits from other countries, especially neighboring countries such as Thailand and Vietnam. Some other vegetable products that Cambodia imports from other countries are also imported through this neighboring country.
Now, the supply situation may change because all Cambodian border crossings with Thailand have been completely banned by the Royal Government from importing vegetables and fruits due to the Thai side’s unilateral border restrictions.
The decision of the Cambodian authorities may cause some problems in the supply of vegetables and fruits. But it is also an opportunity for stakeholders and fruit and vegetable producers to put forward an urgent plan and action to strengthen vegetable cultivation and maintain fruit and vegetable plantations. In the past, we have complained that the vegetables we grow lack a market due to the influx of vegetables and fruits from neighboring countries. But now, one part, namely the import of vegetables and fruits from Thailand, is banned. So it is time to seize this opportunity.
The current situation does not seem likely to end the embargo anytime soon, even though the Cambodian side has set out the conditions for the normal import and export process to resume.
Samdech Thip Dee Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, said on June 18, 2025 that things could resume as normal without any negotiations, that is, only the Thai side has used the principle of unilateral closure. To create problems before June 7, unilaterally reopen the border as before, that’s it. The Cambodian side will follow suit for a maximum of 5 hours.
The King said that this matter does not need to be negotiated. If Thailand restores the situation to the same as before June 7, everything will return to normal immediately. However, analysts believe that Thailand may not be willing to act on this matter for fear of losing face. So this situation may take a long time, so we should consider strengthening domestic supply.
Regarding this mechanism to strengthen vegetable and fruit production, during the Congress of the House and Senate held on June 3, we learned that the government has prepared an additional budget of up to $35 million to support the provision of low-interest loans to modern agricultural communities. So hopefully, vegetables and fruits can benefit from this budget project.
This amount is a lot, but it really cannot respond sufficiently to boost the production of vegetables and fruits on time. At this time, there are certainly difficulties, but if stakeholders come together and work together well, things will go smoothly and Cambodian fruit and vegetable products are expected to be able to enter the market quickly and sustainably, and not only can they move towards taking over the market share and supply of fruits and vegetables in the country, we will be sustainable.
