Kampot: World Tristar Cambodia, the largest Cavendish banana plantation in Kampot province, is significantly expanding its operations to meet increasing demand from both domestic and international markets.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, company representative Mr. Heang Menghoung stated that World Tristar Cambodia has so far cultivated 1,000 hectares of land in Trapeang Phleang commune, Chhouk district, with 700 hectares already under harvest.
The plantation currently exports an average of 700 tonnes of bananas per month, which translates to roughly 35 containers, primarily to China. Smaller volumes are also being sent to South Korea and Vietnam, while local sales remain strong. Established in 2021, the company plans to develop an additional 150 hectares each year until its entire 4,000-plus hectares of land are fully utilised.
Mr. Menghoung highlighted that bananas from Kampot are competitive due to their sweet and fragrant taste, expressing optimism that their markets will expand from Asia to Europe in the future. He also noted that the ongoing Cambodia-Thailand border dispute has not impacted the company's production or expansion, as China serves as the main export destination and most packaging materials are sourced directly from there.
Local authorities report that Trapeang Phleang commune is home to two major Cavendish banana companies: Long Met Plantation, with 400 hectares, and World Tristar Cambodia, with over 4,000 hectares. Together, the two plantations have the current capacity to export more than 30,000 tonnes of bananas annually to China, a number expected to grow steadily in the coming years.