Cambodia’s trade with ASEAN, EU posts double-digit growth during Jan-Sept

Cambodia’s trade with ASEAN, EU posts double-digit growth during Jan-Sept

Cambodia’s trade volume with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) rose steadily in the first nine months of 2026, driven by stronger supply chain linkages and regional trade pacts, according to a Ministry of Commerce report yesterday.

Total trade with the two blocs reached $19.29 billion between January and September, up from 16.68 billion dollars during the same period last year.

The report highlighted that the kingdom’s trade with fellow ASEAN member states grew 16%to $14.26 billion. Meanwhile, its trade exchange with the EU rose 14%, reaching $5.03 billion.

During the nine months, Cambodia’s total global trade volume reached $58.48 billion. Within this framework, the ASEAN market accounted for 24% of the total trade, while the EU market represented 8.6%.

A secretary of state and spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce Penn Sovicheat said that Cambodia’s primary exports to both regions included garments, textiles, footwear, travel goods, bags, bicycles, car tires, electronic components, vehicle parts, and agricultural produce.

On the import side, the kingdom primarily brought in garment raw materials, construction supplies, vehicles, oil and gas, electronic goods, fertilizers, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, supplements, fruits, and food items.

deputy director of the China-ASEAN Studies Center at the Cambodia University of Technology and Science,Thong Mengdavid, said the double-digit growth reflected Cambodia’s deepening regional economic integration and successful trade diversification.

“This upward trajectory is driven by deepening supply chain integration, expanding cross-border commerce, and the trade advantages yielded by regional frameworks like the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP),” he told Xinhua.

khmertimeskh