Palm sugar finds a sweet market niche

Demand for Kampong Speu palm sugar has surged, with orders already up 70 per cent this year, as appetite for the premium organic sugar product grows, boosting its price.

Orders for 260 tonnes of the palm sugar have been placed this year, compared with 150 tonnes in all of last year, and despite its market price climbing to $1,400 per tonne, about $50 more than in 2015, Sam Saroeun, president of Kampong Speu Palm Sugar Promotion Association (KSPSPA), said yesterday.

He attributed the higher returns to Kampong Speu palm sugar’s geographical indication (GI) status, obtained in 2010, which assures buyers that the product comes from a specific geographical location and is produced according to tightly controlled quality specifications.

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