Vietnam leads Cambodia’s seafood suppliers with exports above $33 million

Vietnam takes the leading supplier position

Vietnam was Cambodia’s largest imported-seafood supplier in the first half of 2026, shipping products worth more than $33 million, VietnamPlus reported, citing Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce. The result placed Vietnam well ahead of China, the second-largest supplier, whose shipments exceeded $16 million.

Cambodia imported about 38,000 tonnes of tuna and other seafood products during the six-month period. The cargoes were valued at more than $61 million and were intended to meet demand in the domestic market. Supplies from Hong Kong, Australia, France, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and other markets were worth about $10 million in total.

Broad demand across seafood categories

Pen Sovicheat, secretary of state and spokesperson for Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce, said the country imports a broad range of seafood for domestic consumption. The product mix includes tuna, fresh chilled shrimp, squid, frozen seafood, clams and scallops. This breadth gives suppliers access to several parts of the market, from fresh products to frozen and processed categories.

The first-half figures also show how quickly Cambodia’s import requirement developed relative to the previous full year. In 2025, the country imported about 50,000 tonnes of seafood products valued at $74 million. By comparison, imports in only the first six months of 2026 had already reached about 38,000 tonnes and more than $61 million. The source did not provide separate volume figures for Vietnam or individual product categories.

For Vietnamese producers and traders, the more than $33 million result confirms Cambodia as a significant nearby sales market. Vietnam accounted for the largest portion of Cambodia’s reported seafood import value, while China remained its principal competitor. Other suppliers collectively represented a smaller but still material part of the market.

Cambodia also develops its export offer

Despite its reliance on imports, Cambodia exports seafood caught or produced domestically. In the first half of 2026, it shipped more than 1,200 tonnes worth over $1 million to mainland China, Hong Kong, India, the United States, South Korea, Japan, France and Canada. Its export range includes processed products such as fish cakes, shrimp cakes and fish roe, as well as other seafood items.

In 2025, Cambodia exported about 1,600 tonnes of seafood and generated more than $940,000. The contrast between import and export volumes underscores the importance of foreign supply to domestic consumption, even as Cambodian businesses serve a diverse set of overseas markets.

Kep crab targeted for geographical indication

Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce is also promoting the registration of a geographical indication for crab and swimming crab from the sea off Kep. The initiative is intended to commercialize the local specialty, improve its market competitiveness and support economic growth in the coastal province. Over the longer term, the ministry expects the designation to encourage seafood exports, particularly Kep crab products, while strengthening the province’s position as a destination for tourists and seafood consumers.