Cambodia’s trade volume soars to over $5 billion in Jan
Cambodia’s trade volume soars to over $5 billion in Jan
Cambodia exported about $2.3 billion and imported $2.7 billion, bringing the overall trade volume to $5.05 billion in the first month of 2025, reported the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) yesterday.
The Trade Balance Statistics of GDCE released showed that the Kingdom’s exports surged by 17.3 percent and imports rose by 316 percent, driving a 24.6 percent increase in the overall trade balance compared to the same period in 2024.
The top five trading partners during the period were China, the United States, Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan.
China remains the Kingdom’s top trading partner, with a total volume reaching $1.5 billion. This includes $1.4 billion in imports and $103 million in exports.
However, Cambodia’s exports to China declined by 15.3 percent while imports surged by 40.5 percent. Despite the drop in exports, the sharp rise in imports contributed to an overall trade increase of 34.7 percent compared to January last year.
The United States, the world’s largest consumer, ranked as Cambodia’s second-largest trading partner, with a total volume of $892 million.
The Kingdom’s exports to the US brought significant benefits, reaching $868 million, accounting for 97.4 percent of the total trade. In contrast, imports from the US were valued at just $23 million, highlighting a substantial trade surplus in Cambodia’s favour.
Vietnam, a key importer of agricultural products ranked third on the list. However, overall trade volume between the two nations saw a slight decline of 1 percent in January.
The total trade with Vietnam stood at $670 million, with exports reaching $278 million and imports totalling $392 million.
This marked a significant decrease, with exports dropping by 25.3 percent and imports falling by 28.7 percent compared to the same period last year.
Thailand ranked fourth with a total trade volume of $370 million in January, reflecting an 8.3 percent increase from $341 million during the same period in 2024.
The Kingdom’s exports to Thailand stood at $72 million, marking a decline of 30.8 percent. In contrast, imports from Thailand surged to $297 million, representing a 25.6 percent increase.
The rise in imports contributed to the overall trade growth between the two countries despite the drop in Cambodian exports.
Japan, a key development partner of Cambodia, saw a significant surge of 41.1 percent in overall trade, with the total volume reaching $224 million in January, up from $159 million during the same period.
Cambodia’s exports to Japan rose to $151 million, marking a 29.4 percent increase from $116 million last year.
Meanwhile, imports from Japan soared to $73 million, a sharp rise of 73 percent compared to $42 million in the same period in 2024. This substantial growth reflects the strengthening of trade ties between the two nations.
Speaking to Khmer Times, Chea Chandara, President of the Logistics and Supply Chain Business Association in Cambodia (LOSCBA), expressed optimism about the Kingdom’s trade prospects, noting the absent external disruptions, trade is expected to see continued growth in the coming months.
“We have observed a significant rise in foreign direct investment (FDI) within the industrial sector in 2024 and the first month of this year which will contribute substantially to the national economy,” he said.
Chandara also highlighted the impact of new trade policies under the Trump Administration, particularly given that the US remains the world’s largest importer as well as a key trade partner for Cambodia.
