CAC News
KAMPONG THOM, Cambodia, November 12, 2026 — The Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia (CAC) met with Mr. Keisuke Satoh, Vice President of JFE Shoji Vietnam Co., Ltd., to discuss a potential investment project to establish cashew nut processing and cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) oil extraction facilities in Cambodia.
The Japanese company, JFE Shoji Co., Ltd., is exploring cooperation with TPJ to develop a project that will convert cashew shells, a by-product of cashew processing, into industrial oil. The proposed investment aims to create additional value from Cambodia’s cashew industry while supporting the development of domestic agro-industrial processing.
Under the proposed plan, JFE Shoji intends to establish a cashew processing facility with an annual capacity of 30,000 tonnes of raw cashew nuts (RCN). The facility is expected to generate approximately 20,000 tonnes of cashew shells annually to supply a separate CNSL oil extraction plant, which is planned to have an annual production capacity of 5,000 tonnes.
The project will initially conduct machinery testing for CNSL oil extraction at Kampong Thom Provincial Polytechnic Institute (PIKT). Following successful testing, the partners plan to arrange the investment and construction process in 2027, beginning with the cashew processing facility, followed by the shell oil extraction plant.
The proposed facilities are expected to be established within an Cashew industrial park organized by the Royal Government of Cambodia. Their products will serve both domestic and international markets, with plans to export CNSL oil while also supplying local industries.
According to the Japanese technical experts, CNSL oil has potential applications in heavy industries and can be blended with diesel at a ratio of approximately 5–10 percent for industrial use. This could create additional market opportunities for cashew shells, which are often treated as processing by-products, while diversifying the industrial uses of Cambodia’s cashew resources.
During the meeting, CAC Vice-President Suy Kokthean welcomed the proposed investment, highlighting its potential to strengthen Cambodia’s cashew processing industry and increase the economic value of locally available raw materials. He also encouraged TPJ to support vocational training and the development of skilled Cambodian workers to meet the future labour requirements of the proposed Cashew Industrial Park (CIP).
Both parties expressed their willingness to move forward with the proposed cooperation and agreed to organize further meetings and technical discussions to advance the project.
The proposed investment represents a potential new opportunity for Cambodia to develop a more integrated cashew industry by linking raw nut processing with the utilization of cashew shells for industrial applications. If implemented, the project could attract further investment, create employment opportunities, strengthen technical skills, and generate additional value from Cambodia’s growing cashew sector.
