Exports to EU see significant surge

Exports to EU see significant surge

The export growth reflects the increasing competitiveness of Cambodian goods in the European market, driven primarily by favourable trade agreements.

Cambodia’s exports to the European Union (EU) totaled $4,215 million in the January-October period of 2025, up nearly 17.32 percent from $3,593 million in the same period last year, a report from the Ministry of Commerce showed yesterday.

The Kingdom’s EU exports accounted for 16.28 percent of total exports $25,902 million, stated the report.

Spain, Germany and the Netherlands are Cambodia’s biggest trade partners in the EU with bilateral trade volumes of $1,008 million, $933 million, and $844 million, respectively. Cambodia’s other destinations in the EU are France and Belgium.

Significant increase in exports to the EU showed Cambodia’s products are competitive and fulfill larger orders and meet growing European demand, said Penn Sovicheat, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Commerce.

Speaking to Khmer Times, Sovicheat said, “The export growth reflects the increasing competitiveness of Cambodian goods in the European market, driven primarily by favourable trade agreements such as the EBA scheme and strong performance in key sectors such as clothing, footwear, and bicycles, leading to significant economic benefits and diversification for the country.”

Cambodia mainly exports textiles, footwear, bicycles, foodstuffs, milled rice, and other agricultural products to the EU under the EBA (Everything but Arms) scheme.

According to the report, from January to October, the Kingdom’s imports from the EU amounted to $737 million, down 8.76 percent compared to the same period in 2024.

The figures showed that Cambodia’s two-way trade with the EU rose by 12.53 percent to $4,953 million, the report added.

In the ‘Third Cambodia-EU Public-Private Dialogue’ held in October in Phnom Penh, the EU delegation, EuroCham, and the European business community expressed a strong interest in Cambodia’s growing market potential, highlighting opportunities in manufacturing, green energy, logistics, and digital transformation.

The dialogue was held with the aim of discussing key issues affecting European investments in Cambodia, including regulatory transparency, trade facilitation, and private sector competitiveness.

The European Union (EU), Canada are the primary export markets among the United States and Japan for Cambodia’s Garment, Footwear, and Travel goods (GFT) and other manufactured products.

Meanwhile, Cambodia’s exports to the United Kingdom rose by 7.66 percent to $869 million and $1,069 million to Canada, a year-on-year increase of 17.25 percent during the above-mentioned period.

The country is actively diversifying its export markets to build a more resilient and sustainable production base through establishing more trade agreements with main trade partners, Sovicheat said.

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