Cambodia’s bird’s-nest industry could begin formal exports to the Chinese market in 2026. Although China’s General Administration of Customs issued a notice in mid-2025 allowing Cambodian bird’s nests to enter the market in principle, the relevant export procedures are still being advanced and formal exports have not yet begun, according to the report.
Khmer Swiftlet Association chairman Suy Kokthean said about 1,000 nest houses in Cambodia had registered with the agriculture ministry, and six companies had been designated as priority enterprises for coordination with Chinese customs. As registration and coordination procedures are progressively completed, exports could accelerate significantly. He said that once the export channel opens, market prices for bird’s nests may adjust, processing enterprises and businesses upstream and downstream could gain new development opportunities, with further job creation benefiting local communities.
Under the General Administration of Customs requirements dated May 12, 2025, raw bird’s nests and edible bird’s nests exported to China must meet the two countries’ quarantine and food safety and hygiene rules and undergo effective heat treatment at a core temperature of at least 70°C for at least 3.6 seconds to eliminate avian influenza and Newcastle disease virus risks. Source nest houses or caves must be registered by Cambodia’s competent authorities and reported to the Chinese side. Primary processors of raw bird’s nests and processors of edible bird’s nests must register with the Chinese side; only products made from the registration date onward may be exported, and unregistered producers may not export to China. The report says China has not yet announced a specific export quota and the association is gathering data to assess how much Cambodia could supply.
