Cambodian mangoes are currently experiencing a surge in popularity within Russian markets, offering a significant boost to the Kingdom’s agricultural sector. Representatives of an agriculture firm responsible for exporting Cambodian mangoes to Russia and Central Asia have reported this remarkable trend.
A senior executive from the Liaoning Zhongshang International Trading Company revealed that Cambodian mangoes are becoming a sensation in Russian markets, particularly in high-end segments. Among the various Cambodian mango varieties, Keov Romeat stands out as the most sought-after in Russia. Keov Romeat mangoes boast a distinctive golden yellow skin, exceptional sweetness, a robust aroma, and low pulp fiber content.
Despite the limited supply of Keov Romeat mangoes, this particular variety has garnered immense popularity in cities like Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Novosibirsk. Surprisingly, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has failed to diminish the demand for Cambodian mangoes in the Russian market.
In 2022, Cambodia exported a total of 169,658 tonnes of fresh and dried mangoes, marking a decrease of more than 30 percent compared to the previous year, as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. Notably, the demand for Cambodian mangoes has been on the rise in various countries, including Vietnam, Thailand, mainland China, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Austria. Dried Cambodian mangoes have found substantial success in mainland China, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, Russia, Italy, the UK, South Korea, the US, and Australia.
China has emerged as a pivotal market for Cambodian mangoes. Reth Songheng, the Chief Administrative Officer of Zhong Bao (Cambodia) Food Science and Technology Co Ltd, disclosed that the factory exported a remarkable 2,800 tons of dried mangoes to China in 2022, representing a year-on-year increase of 10 to 20 percent. This export growth has been attributed to the positive impact of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the China Cambodia Free Trade Agreement. These agreements have significantly reduced tariff costs, enabling the factory to expand its production capacity to meet the growing demand in the Chinese market.
These free trade agreements are expected to further boost economic cooperation between Cambodia and China, fostering greater trade ties. While India retains its position as the world’s largest mango producer with an annual production of 24,968,000 tonnes, China ranks second with 3,961,662 tonnes per year. Indonesia follows closely behind as the third-largest mango producer, producing approximately 3,561,867.46 tonnes annually.
