Crocodile sales slump: Cambodian farmers seek wider access to China’s market

Crocodile farming in Cambodia’s Siem Reap province is facing significant business pressure amid continually weakening market demand and rising production costs. Local farmers have recently urged the government to accelerate efforts to export crocodiles to China and actively develop more international markets to help the industry recover.
According to the report, Siem Reap’s crocodile market has remained depressed in recent years, with farmers commonly reporting restricted sales channels and insufficient demand. Although some companies and traders still buy from farms, purchase volumes and exports are limited. Large numbers of crocodiles remain unsold at farms, tying up capital and adding to daily feeding costs. Changes in overland trade have also led many farmers to switch from sourcing feed in Thailand to importing it from Viet Nam, further increasing farming costs and business pressure.
Farmers said they hoped the relevant authorities would speed up work on crocodile exports to China and help expand into more overseas markets, creating new opportunities for the industry. The report noted that during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Cambodia in April 2025, the two countries signed several agricultural export cooperation documents, including a protocol on inspection, quarantine and health requirements for Cambodian farmed crocodiles exported to China. It said this laid a foundation for their entry into the Chinese market and brought new opportunities for local farmers.