Cambodia Food Packaging Market Overview
Cambodia has a population of 17 million with GDP per capita of approximately USD 1,800 and GDP growth averaging 6-7% annually, making it one of ASEAN's fastest-growing economies. The food packaging market is valued at approximately USD 180 million, with rigid plastic packaging growing at 10-15% annually as the urban consumer economy develops rapidly. Annual plastic packaging consumption is estimated at 60,000 tonnes, supported by approximately 30-40 injection molding companies concentrated in Phnom Penh and the Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone. Cambodia's milk tea and bubble tea market has exploded since 2020, with branded chains including Koi The, Tiger Sugar Cambodia, The Alley, Brown, Malis Tea, and dozens of local brands operating hundreds of outlets primarily in Phnom Penh and provincial capitals. The Cambodian youth demographic (60% of the population is under 30) drives intense demand for trendy milk tea beverages. Currently, virtually all disposable PP cups are imported from China, Vietnam, and Thailand, creating significant import substitution opportunity for a local manufacturer.
Key Specs
- •Cambodia has a population of 17 million with GDP per capita of approximately USD 1,800 and GDP growth averaging 6-7% annually, making it one of ASEAN's fastest-growing economies.
- •The food packaging market is valued at approximately USD 180 million, with rigid plastic packaging growing at 10-15% annually as the urban consumer economy develops rapidly.
- •Annual plastic packaging consumption is estimated at 60,000 tonnes, supported by approximately 30-40 injection molding companies concentrated in Phnom Penh and the Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone.
12-cavity milk tea cup mold with IML capability
Key Opportunities: Milk Tea Cup Sector
Cambodia's milk tea cup market presents three attractive opportunities for a first mover. First, the complete import dependency means every cup currently sold represents import substitution potential. With estimated annual demand of 150-300 million milk tea cups in Cambodia growing at 15-20% annually, a single HWAMDA production line can capture a substantial market share. Second, Cambodia's Special Economic Zones (Phnom Penh SEZ, Manhattan SEZ, Sihanoukville SEZ) offer duty-free import of machinery and raw materials plus corporate tax holidays, dramatically improving project economics. Third, Cambodia's ASEAN membership provides preferential access to neighboring markets including Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, though the primary opportunity is the domestic market. Milk tea cups at 0.45mm wall thickness weighing 8-12g in 350-500ml sizes represent the core demand. A 4-cavity mold on the SPV5-320 producing 400ml cups at 4.5-second cycles delivers 3,200 cups per hour or approximately 23 million annually with one shift. The first local producer will have significant first-mover advantage.
Import Regulations and Certification Requirements
Cambodia classifies injection molding machinery under HS code 8477.10 with a standard import duty of 7% plus 10% VAT on CIF value. However, manufacturers operating in approved Special Economic Zones qualify for duty-free import of machinery, equipment, and raw materials under the Cambodia Investment Law 2021. The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) grants Qualified Investment Project (QIP) status to approved manufacturers, providing corporate tax holidays of up to 9 years plus accelerated depreciation. Food-contact packaging must comply with Cambodia's MIME (Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy) standards for food safety, which are being progressively aligned with ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards and Quality (ACCSQ) guidelines. Electrical supply in Cambodia is 400V/50Hz three-phase in major cities and industrial zones, though voltage stability requires stabilizer equipment. Import documentation requires commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, and CDC/QIP approval certificate for duty exemption. HWAMDA provides CE certificates and technical documentation.
Key Specs
- •Cambodia classifies injection molding machinery under HS code 8477.10 with a standard import duty of 7% plus 10% VAT on CIF value.
SPV5 high-speed machine for milk tea cup production
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HWAMDA Equipment for This Market
For Cambodia's milk tea cup market, HWAMDA recommends the HMD 320M8-SPV (3,200 kN) as the ideal platform, balancing capital investment with production capability for Cambodia's developing market. The machine handles 4-cavity milk tea cup molds with the injection speed and pressure needed for 0.45mm wall thickness. The recommended configuration is a 4-cavity 400ml milk tea cup mold in 2344 steel with valve gate hot runner, producing 10g cups at 4.5-5 second cycle times. For operations with higher capital, the HMD 380M8-SPV (3,800 kN) accommodates 8-cavity molds for doubled output. The complete production line includes the SPV5 machine, cup mold, take-out robot, XC-LF10A industrial chiller (32.1 kW), vacuum hopper loader, conveyor, and voltage stabilizer. A backup generator of 30-45 kVA is recommended for Phnom Penh locations. Energy consumption of 1.0-1.2 kWh/kg suits Cambodia's electricity rates of approximately USD 0.12-0.18/kWh. The INOVA controller operates stably under the voltage fluctuations common in Cambodian industrial zones.
Logistics and After-Sales Support
HWAMDA ships to Cambodia from Ningbo Port to Sihanoukville Port (12-16 days) or via Laem Chabang (Thailand) with overland trucking to Phnom Penh (14-20 days total). Sihanoukville is Cambodia's main deep-water port with improving infrastructure. For Phnom Penh SEZ operations, containerized freight reaches the factory within 1-2 days of port clearance. Installation and commissioning requires 7-10 days with HWAMDA's Southeast Asia service team. Training covers 5 days including machine operation, cup quality control, and maintenance procedures. Spare parts delivery from Ningbo reaches Cambodia in 10-14 days by sea or 3-5 days by air freight to Phnom Penh International Airport. HWAMDA recommends maintaining a local spare parts kit. HWAMDA provides 24-month machine warranty and 12-month mold warranty. Technical support via WhatsApp at +86-159-5888-5672 provides responsive communication. English-language support is available, suitable for Cambodia's business environment where English is widely used in manufacturing.
Automatic packing and stacking system
Getting Started: Investment and ROI
Total investment for a complete HWAMDA milk tea cup line for Cambodia ranges from USD 145,000 to USD 210,000, including the HMD 320M8-SPV machine (USD 68,000-88,000), 4-cavity milk tea cup mold (USD 9,000-14,000), take-out robot (USD 9,000-14,000), chiller, loader, voltage stabilizer, generator, and auxiliaries. With CDC/QIP approval in a Cambodian SEZ, machinery imports are duty-free, saving approximately USD 10,000-15,000. At 4-cavity running 4.5-second cycles with 78% OEE, output reaches 2,496 cups per hour or approximately 18.1 million annually. Production cost per 400ml cup: PP resin USD 0.010-0.013, energy USD 0.002, labor USD 0.001, mold amortization USD 0.001, totaling approximately USD 0.014-0.017. Cambodian market prices for branded milk tea cups range from KHR 80-150 (USD 0.020-0.037), yielding gross margins of 30-54%. Compared to imported cups at USD 0.025-0.04 landed, local production saves 25-40%. Equipment payback: 16-24 months. First-mover advantage is significant. Contact sales@hwamdaglobal.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambodia's CDC (Council for the Development of Cambodia) grants Qualified Investment Project (QIP) status with benefits including: duty-free import of machinery and raw materials, corporate income tax holiday of up to 9 years, accelerated depreciation on capital assets, and 100% foreign ownership allowed. Special Economic Zones add subsidized land, streamlined customs, and utility infrastructure. The Phnom Penh SEZ is ideal for food packaging manufacturing with proximity to the capital's milk tea market.
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