PHNOM PENH — As many as 180 tons of Kampong Speu’s organic palm sugar is expected to be exported in 2025. The estimated amount is more than double the previous year’s exports that had totaled 85 tons. 

According to Sam Saroeun who heads the Kampong Speu Palm Sugar Association, the increase in the market abroad is due to the change in the production method and the change of name for the product. Previously called Kampong Speu Geographical Indication (GI) palm sugar in information material, it is now called Kampong Speu Organic Palm Sugar, he said.

“In the past, we exported Kampong Speu palm sugar as GI, which means a geographical indication product,” Saroeun said. “However, in European countries and some others, they are not very familiar with what GI is.

“So, we have created a new name, 'organic' or 'Kampong Speu Organic Palm Sugar,'” he said. “People are getting really attracted to our palm sugar because of their demand for organic products.”

The name change from GI to organic has led to more foreign customers, especially in Europe, Saroeun said. In early 2025, a major exporting company has ordered about 180 tons of palm sugar worth $750,000, while three other companies have not yet confirmed their plans, he said.

Saroeun stressed that GI and organic palm sugar are produced in the same way. The special feature of organic sugar is that farmers are required to grow palm trees on hilly terrain, with no chemicals such as fertilizers or pesticides around the trees in an area of at least 4 meters from each tree.

Kampong Speu organic palm sugar is produced from December to May. During that period, the farmers are really busy climbing the trees for palms and processing the sugar. This is also the season when the palm flowers bloom the most and rain does not affect the tree climbing or the quality of palm juice.

Saroeun said that Kampong Speu palm sugar exports have increased significantly year after year. In 2022, the association exported 50 tonnes of palm sugar, worth $200,000. In 2023, they exported 70 tonnes, worth approximately $310,000, and in 2024, the total was 85 tonnes, worth $380,000.

Kampong Speu palm sugar received Geographical Indication (GI) status from the Cambodian government in 2010. Then in 2019, the European Union recognized it as a Geographical Indication product.

The Kampong Speu Palm Sugar Association includes 156 member families. Among them, 59 members are sugar producers, helping the association produce both GI palm sugar and organic sugar, the production totaling 350 tonnes per year.

Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this story was translated by Chhuon Kongieng for Cambodianess.