A livestock industry representative has called on the government to cap Cambodia’s only live pig export company’s trade with Laos, citing shortages in the local market.

CP Cambodia, a subsidiary of the Thai conglomerate CP Global, exported some 25,000 head of live swine – boars, sows and piglets – to Laos during the first six months of the year, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce.

“CP Cambodia is the only exporter because they can produce quality sows, boars and they also have their own network in Laos,” said Suon Sothoeun, deputy director of Animal Health and Production department of Agriculture Ministry.

Meanwhile, Sothoeun said, Cambodians spend more than $2 million on importing pigs from neighbouring countries for slaughter in an effort to supply the estimated three million pigs that are consumed annually.

Srun Pov, president of the Cambodian Pig Raising Association in Kandal province, called on the government to cap CP Cambodia’s exports and demand some of the animals be sold domestically.

“Laos imports piglets from Cambodia, and then raise the pigs using their own locally produced feed until the animal is mature enough to slaughter before they export the meat back to Cambodia,” Pov said.

“We will never be able to supply enough for local demand when the company does not sell piglets for local raisers . . . The government should not allow swine to be exported while local raisers are in need of more piglets to fill demand,” he added.

CP Cambodia declined to comment.