Activists Claim Cambodia Resumes Sea Sand Exports to Singapore
Environmental group Mother Nature Cambodia has released a video alleging that Cambodia has resumed exporting sea sand to Singapore, despite a formal ban enacted in 2017. The ban was initially imposed following a scandal involving environmental degradation linked to sand shipments for Singapore's land reclamation projects.
Between 2008 and 2016, Singapore reportedly imported over 75 million tonnes of sand from Cambodia, valued at over US$700 million, according to Singaporean import data. However, Cambodian records for the same period show less than 3 million tonnes, worth approximately US$5 million, highlighting significant discrepancies.
The Cambodian government had placed a temporary ban on marine dredging and sand exports from the Koh Kong province in November 2016, which became permanent in June 2017. The Ministry of Mines and Energy had previously dismissed similar allegations in 2017, stating that certain sand types, such as silica sand for glass production, were not covered by the ban.
As of now, there have been no public statements or documents from Cambodian or Singaporean authorities confirming the resumption of sea sand exports in 2026. Global watchdogs have previously raised concerns about the regulation of Cambodia's sand trade, but these reports date back to 2010 and do not address current activities.