Workers sew garments for export at a factory in Phnom Penh. STPM
The total value of Cambodia’s imports and exports rose by nearly 20%, pushing international trade volume in the first five months of 2025 to over $25 billion. China accounted for nearly one-third of the total.
A June 10 report by the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) showed that from January to May 2025, total trade reached $25.29 billion, an 18.5% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Of the figure, exports reached $11.8 billion, up 17.2%, and imports hit $13.49 billion, up 19.7%.
This means the Kingdom recorded a trade deficit of about $1.68 billion during the first five months of 2025, compared to $1.19 billion during the same period last year.
China remained Cambodia’s largest trading partner, with total trade amounting to $7.64 billion, an increase of 27.5%. Cambodia exported $634.02 million worth of goods to China, a decrease of 3.6%, while imports rose by 31.4% to $7 billion.
Other major trading partners included the US, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, Canada, Indonesia, Germany, Malaysia and Spain.
Economist Hong Vanak from the Royal Academy of Cambodia told The Post on June 10 that favourable domestic factors and increasing foreign orders had led to a rise in the number of factories and enterprises operating in Cambodia.
“When there are more orders from abroad, it helps create more job opportunities, household income and tax revenue for the government,” he noted.
“Although Cambodia is currently negotiating with the US government on Donald Trump’s “reciprocal tariff” issues, I believe international trade will continue to improve in 2025 as the country’s production capacity and the diversity of its export products continue to grow,” he added.
Regarding bilateral trade with China, he noted that Cambodia’s rising imports were due to the importation of raw materials used for processing and re-export to other countries.
Nonetheless, Vanak urged Cambodia to find ways to reduce the trade imbalance by producing goods which are in high demand in China.
In 2024, Cambodia’s total trade with all partners reached $54.74 billion, a 16.9% increase over 2023. Exports were valued at $26.2 billion, up 15.7%, and imports reached $28.54 billion, up 18%.
Cambodia’s major exports included garments, footwear, travel bags, machinery, electrical equipment, leather materials, animal hair-based products, grains, rubber, rubber products and furniture, according to the GDCE.
