Cambodia’s export of textiles, shoes and travel products reaches $12B

Cambodia’s export of textiles, shoes and travel products reaches $12B

ASEAN remains Cambodia’s largest market for these products, with exports to the bloc rising by 33 percent.

In the first nine months of 2025, Cambodia’s exports of textiles, footwear, travel goods, and bags were valued at about $12 billion, an increase of 16.6 percent compared to the same period in 2024, according to Sun Mesa, spokesman for the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training (MLVT).

Mesa told Khmer Times that from January to September, ASEAN remains Cambodia’s largest market for these products, with exports to the bloc rising by 33 percent.

The garments exported were worth $8.63 billion, textiles $505 million, footwear $1.54 billion, while travel goods and bags, equivalent to $1.53 billion.

He further said that exports to the United States increased by 26 percent, China by 13.7 percent, while exports to the European Union accounted for 12 percent of the total exports. Shipments to Japan rose by about 10 percent, and to the United Kingdom by 4.4 percent.

Mesa also noted that imports of raw materials for garment production reached about $4.4 billion during the same period, up 6.4 percent from last year.

“The significant increase in exports clearly demonstrates the strength and resilience of Cambodia’s textiles, footwear, travel goods, and bags sectors,” Mesa stressed.

The spokesman attributed the growth to the hard work and productivity of Cambodian workers, along with the government’s effective management of employment and labour conditions. The strong performance also reflects Cambodia’s peace, stability, and sound political leadership.

“In creating a favourable business environment that encourages exports to rise year after year, Cambodia has also benefited from its strong international partnerships,” Mesa emphasised. “This success highlights the good relations between Cambodia and its key partners — ASEAN, the United States, China, the European Union, Japan, and others.”

Chey Tech, a socio-economic researcher, told Khmer Times that among the three core sectors driving Cambodia’s economic growth — industry, agriculture, and services — the industrial sector plays the most crucial role and has shown the fastest growth, particularly in textiles, footwear, travel goods, bags, and manufacturing.

He explained that the 19 percent tariff rate granted by the US provides Cambodia with a strong competitive advantage over key regional players such as Vietnam, India, China, and Bangladesh.

“We have great potential because the 19 percent tariff rate is among the lowest compared to Vietnam, India, and China,” Tech said.

Tech went on to add that in the textiles, footwear, travel goods, and bags sectors, these major competitors find it difficult to compete with Cambodia, as the US market remains highly attractive.

Cambodia’s low-cost unskilled labour also helps draw foreign direct investment (FDI) into these sectors, which are expected to continue expanding in the coming years — not only in textiles and garments, but also in electrical appliance production.​

khmertimeskh