Cambodia’s trade with RCEP countries hits nearly $23 bln in first 7 months of 2025

Cambodia’s trade with RCEP countries hits nearly $23 bln in first 7 months of 2025

Cambodia’s trade with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) member countries reached $22.99 billion in the first seven months of 2025, up 15.7 percent from $19.87 billion over the same period last year, said an official report on Monday.

The country’s exports to fellow RCEP members amounted to $5.77 billion during the January-July period this year, up 11 percent from $5.2 billion over the same period last year, said the report compiled by the Ministry of Commerce.

Meanwhile, the kingdom’s imports from the RCEP members hit $17.22 billion, up 17.3 percent from $14.67 billion, the report added.

The report showed that the RCEP market is a significant market for Cambodia, accounting for 62.3 percent of the kingdom’s total trade volume of $36.88 billion during the first seven months this year.

Cambodia’s top five trading partners under the RCEP are China, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, and Singapore.

Entered into force in 2022, the RCEP comprises 15 Asia-Pacific countries, including 10 ASEAN member states — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam — and their five trading partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

Cambodian Ministry of Commerce’s Secretary of State and spokesperson Penn Sovicheat said the RCEP, the world’s largest free trade pact, has played a crucial role in boosting global trade amidst the United States’ tariff hikes.

“The RCEP is a catalyst for long-term export growth and a magnet to attract more foreign direct investment to Cambodia,” he told Xinhua. “With preferential tariffs provided under the RCEP, Cambodia’s exports to other RCEP members will definitely continue to rise this year and beyond.” 

khmertimeskh