Cambodia’s GFT export surge despite tariff jolt

Cambodia’s GFT export surge despite tariff jolt

The GFT industry is the Kingdom’s largest foreign exchange earner, accounting for 50 percent of the country’s total export value.

Cambodia’s garment, footwear and travel (GFT) products continued to rise significantly last year despite the Kingdom facing a new reciprocal tariff by the United States.

The GFT exports stood at $15.52 billion in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 15.7 percent from $13.5 billion in 2024, according to a report from the Ministry of Commerce on Sunday.

The report showed that in 2025, Cambodia exported garment products worth $11.4 billion, an increase of 16.52 percent, footwear products worth $2.09 billion, an increase of 24.53 percent, and travel and bag goods worth $2.02 billion, up 3.87 percent compared to 2024.

Penn Sovicheat, Secretary of State and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, stated that GTF product exports continue to receive purchase orders, especially from the United States, Europe, RCEP member countries, and other markets.

“This strong growth is because these three types of goods remain Cambodia’s competitive goods, which are highly trusted in the global supply chain,” he said at a recent ministry’s annual meeting.

Although Cambodia faces a reciprocal tariff rate of 19 percent for exports to the US market, this rate still provides a highly competitive opportunity for the Kingdom to compete with other countries in the region as well as countries exporting similar products, he said.

Heng Sour, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, appreciated the GFT goods export last year and spoke highly of TAFTAC’s significant role in negotiating and discussing various tasks aimed at maintaining and expanding this sector, as well as contributing to the promotion of working conditions, welfare, and labour rights in Cambodia.

Over the past 29 years, TAFTAC has served as a unified voice for investors, protecting and promoting the legitimate rights and interests of all investors, and has established forums for consultation and social dialogue with all stakeholders to create an investment environment conducive to export growth and sustainable development, he said presiding over the 17th Conference of TAFTAC held on Saturday at the Royal Group Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone,

The GFT industry is Cambodia’s largest foreign exchange earner, accounting for 50 percent of the Kingdom’s total export value during the above-mentioned period.

He also asked TAFTAC to continue to increase membership trust with transparency, accountability, efficiency, and professionalism, as well as continue to promote priority work in a proactive spirit with the ILO-Better Factory Cambodia project and participate in the ‘One Enterprise as One Peaceful Community’ campaign to strengthen the culture of compliance and harmonisation of professional relations.

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