October 7, 2020

Harim Corporation to produce and export poultry from Cambodia

South Korean poultry integrator Harim Corporation has expressed interest in investing in Cambodia to expand its business in the region, according to Cambodian Ambassador to South Korea Long Dimanche, The Phnom Penh Post reported.

Dimanche says the company is the number one chicken distributor in Korea with 70% market share, supplying a daily average of 650,000 chickens, and up to 1.3 million head in summer.

"The company has invested heavily in technology and keeping the quality of the meat fresh, and they will consider studying investment possibilities in Cambodia. I requested they seek the opportunity to shelter an animal feed processing factory in Cambodia for re-export supplying to farms in South Korea," Dimanche says.

Adds Cambodia Livestock Raisers Association director Srun Pov: "Raising chickens is not very profitable because raising chickens for meat in our local market is in excess of demand, but if they invest in a chicken farm to produce and export to Korea, it will be a good thing to create job opportunities and a market for raw materials for animal feed production. We support it."

According to Pov, domestic chicken demand ranges from 120,000 to 130,000 head per day.

However, in terms of overall meat demand, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Cambodians consumed 290,000 tonnes of meat in 2019, with supplies at only 240,000 tonnes.

The ministry aims to raise meat production to 335,000 tonnes by 2030 to make up for the shortfall and reduce imports. Of total meat production, chicken and duck accounted for 20%, beef 27% and pork 57%.