Mong Reththy Group, the largest agro-industrial company in Cambodia, has sent 13 shipments of mangoes to Europe this year totalling 54,000 kilograms, the owner said yesterday.

According to Mong Reththy, the most recent shipment contained 4,500 kilograms of Aiwen and Keo Romeat mangoes.

He said that it was the first time for Cambodia to ship Aiwen mangoes to Europe after three years of waiting for the crop to bear fruit.

“I am proud that Cambodia mangoes can be exported to Europe for the first time,” he said. “The new species of Aiwen is very expensive and popular in the European market.”

He said the 14th and final shipment of his company’s mangoes will be sent on Monday, heralding the end of the mango season.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, over 9,000 tonnes of mangoes were exported in 2015, the majority shipped to Vietnam.

However, Eang Sophallet, spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture, claimed that many of last year’s exports were destined for Europe, albeit indirectly.

“It is not the first time that Cambodia has exported these [mangoes] to Europe,” he said.

“Our mangoes are sent to Thailand and Vietnam to be checked for phytosanitary approval before being shipped to Europe.”