Kingdom’s exports of garments, footwear, and travel goods soar 22 percent

Kingdom’s exports of garments, footwear, and travel goods soar 22 percent

The main markets for the Kingdom’s GFT products are the United States, European Union, Canada and Japan.

Cambodia exported garment, footwear and travel products (GFT) worth $7.38 billion in the first half of 2025, up 22 percent from the $6.02 billion reported in the same period a year earlier, said a report from the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia.

Garment products accounted for $5,283 million during the January-June period, up 22 percent year on year, read the report.

Footwear represented $1,030 million, up 33 percent from a year earlier, while travel goods accounted for $1,068 million, up 12.6 percent year on year.

The main markets for the Kingdom’s GFT products are the US, EU, Canada and Japan, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Currently, Cambodia exports GTF goods, solar panels, furniture, and bicycles to the US under the trade preference scheme of the Most Favoured Nation.

Penn Sovicheat, Secretary of State and Spokesperson at the Ministry of Commerce, attributed this growth to a rise in global demand for apparel and textile.

“This GFT industry has received purchase orders, showing the quality of our products which meet the demand in the foreign market,” Sovicheat said.

However, the sector is facing uncertainty following recent tariff announcements by US President Donald Trump.

On July 7, the Washington administration announced a 36 percent tariff on Cambodian imports, down from 49 percent, which will take effect on August 1.

Lim Heng, Vice President of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce, urged exporters not to worry too much. “While the US has imposed a 36 percent tariff on Cambodian goods, some of Cambodia’s regional competitors are also facing similar tariffs,” he said.

Cambodian officials are reportedly optimistic that continued dialogue could lead to a more favourable outcome before the August 1 deadline, with the US leaving the door open for further adjustments based on improvements in bilateral trade relations and Cambodia’s market access policies.

Sovicheat said that Cambodia has diversified markets for made-in-Cambodia products to ensure the sustainable growth of the manufacturing sector in the country.

He emphasised the huge markets in the bilateral FTAs, countries like with in China, South Korea, and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the United Arab Emirates, particularly the mega regional trade pact -RCEP agreement for market access to Cambodian products.

The GFT industry is the largest foreign exchange earner for the Kingdom.

The sector consists of about 1,608 factories, employing approximately 913,000 workers, mostly female, according to the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training’s latest report, Heng Sour, Minister of Labor and Vocational Training, said.

Last year, the country exported GFT products worth $13.92 billion, up 23 percent over a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Commerce’s report.

khmertimeskh