Cambodia's salt production is expected to reach 60,000 to 100,000 tons in 2025

Cambodia's salt production commenced in October 2024, with 30% of the production being sold domestically. Despite the industry seeing a challenge due to a sharp decline in exported salt, leading to a market crisis with an inventory surplus of 40% to 50% and a drop in domestic salt prices, the industry is on track to surpass its 2025 production targets with favorable weather conditions. However, the industry is currently facing challenges such as losses for salt farmers due to low domestic prices, suspension of production, and a stagnant export market due to international conflicts like the Middle East conflict and the Russian-Ukrainian war. Nonetheless, the industry has shown growth, producing 130,000 tons in 2024, a significant increase from 80,000 tons in 2023.

At a press conference on January 31, Cambodia Salt Association Chairman Wen Naren said that salt production had begun in October 2024, and 30% of the output has been harvested and sold to the domestic market. He pointed out that if weather conditions are good, the salt production in 2025 will reach the above target. Wen Naren also mentioned that due to the sharp decline in salt production exported to the international market in 2024, the inventory surplus was about 40% to 50%, which made the Cambodian salt industry face a market crisis. For example, at the end of last year, the price of salt fell sharply, and the selling price of 50 kilograms of salt dropped to 5,500 Cambodian riels, which almost made salt makers lose money. Because the current salt-making method in Cambodia is still traditional and purely natural. He stressed that the price of salt has remained low so far, causing some salt farmers to suspend production due to losses. In addition, the salt export market has been ...