US-Cambodia trade rises by nearly 40% in 2019

Jan 24th at 15:09
24-01-2020 15:09:04+07:00

US-Cambodia trade rises by nearly 40% in 2019

Trade between Cambodia and the US rose by 38 per cent last year, totalling $5.4 billion.

Trade between the countries hit $5.446 billion – up from $3.935 billion from the same period in 2018, a report from the US Census Bureau said.

The report noted that exports from the Kingdom to the US rose by 40 per cent, hitting $4.9 million, while US exports to Cambodia hit $484 million, up by 20 per cent.

Cambodia Chamber of Commerce vice-president Lim Heng said the improvement of diplomatic relations led to the increased trade.

He noted the Kingdom’s access to the US’ Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) remains key to strong trade between the nations.

“The US is Cambodia’s key strategic market, so if we can maintain this favourable position, trade will certainly grow for a long time. The US is Cambodia’s largest export market,” he said.

The Kingdom’s exports to the US have continued to grow since travel goods – including handbags, backpacks and luggage – were granted duty-free status under the Generalised System of Preferences in July 2016.

According to National Bank of Cambodia, the US is the largest market for Cambodian exports, with it accounting for 29 per cent of the $10.9 billion of goods exported over the first nine months of last year.

Hong Vannak, a researcher at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, warned the rising trade volume could take a hit if the Kingdom’s access to the GSP is revoked, a move currently being mulled by the US as it reviews the rights situation in the country.

To counter this possibility, he said new trade partners must be sought and relations with current ones expanded.

“Diversification of new markets is still an important task that Cambodia has to work on as more markets will stabilise Cambodia’s exports,” he said.

phnompenh post



RELATED STOCK CODE (1)

NEWS SAME CATEGORY

Ministry invites businessmen to Japan

The Ministry of Commerce on Monday called on the private sector to showcase their products and seek business partners at the upcoming “Cambodia Festival 2020” which...

Jetro: Cambodia-Japan trade up 13%

Trade between Cambodia and Japan increased by nearly 13 per cent last year compared with 2018, the Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) said.

Taiwan business delegation scheduled to visit in March

A group of investors from Taiwan plan to visit Cambodia in March to seek investment opportunities and tap into the Kingdom’s economic growth, said Cambodia Chamber...

Mixed reactions over 2020 outlook

Reactions to Cambodia’s economic and political outlooks for this year have been mixed as the possible loss of the EU’s Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme in February...

Cambodians seeking to invest more abroad

Cambodia's outward direct investment declined 13.45 per cent during the first nine months of last year compared to the same period in 2018, the National Bank of...

Council approves four investment projects worth $17.2 million

The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) on Monday announced the approval of four investment projects worth some $17.2 million. These are set to create...

PM: ‘Peace and stability the bedrock of growth’

Prime Minister Hun Sen, speaking to thousands of Cambodian People’s Party faithful who had congregated on Koh Pich to commemorate the 41st Victory Day on Tuesday...

Kingdom’s booming economy a magnet for trade with Bangladesh

With Bangladeshi investments in Cambodia remaining meagre, the Kingdom has called on the South Asian country to encourage its investors to channel funds here.

‘Cambodia-Vietnam ties stronger than rest of Asean’

With Vietnam’s economic relationship with Cambodia being significantly stronger than its other Asean partners, Vietnamese ambassador Vu Quang Minh said the two...

FDI to Cambodia rockets 12% to $3.5 billion in 2019

Cambodia attracted more than $3.5 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) last year, an increase of nearly 12 per cent over 2018, thanks in part to Chinese...


MOST READ


Back To Top