RCEP fuels Cambodia’s trade surge despite global headwinds

RCEP fuels Cambodia’s trade surge despite global headwinds

Cambodia’s trade with Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) member states rose 21.3% year-on-year in the first nine months of 2026, driven by tariff preferences and trade facilitation, official data showed on Thursday.

According to a report from the Ministry of Commerce, the Southeast Asian country recorded $35.79 billion in trade with RCEP countries during the January-September period, up from $29.5 billion during the same period last year.

Exports to RCEP members increased by 8.1% to $8.03 billion, while imports climbed 25.7% to reach $27.76 billion.

The RCEP free trade pact remains Cambodia’s largest market, accounting for 61.2% of the country’s $58.48 billion total global trade volume over the nine months.

China, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, and Thailand rank as Cambodia’s top five trading partners within the bloc.

Coming into effect in 2022, the RCEP unites 15 Asia-Pacific nations, combining 10 ASEAN member states with China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

Penn Sovicheat, a secretary of state and spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, said that the pact has played a vital role in accelerating trade growth locally, regionally, and globally.

“The RCEP is a driving force for our long-term trade growth and a major catalyst for drawing foreign direct investment to Cambodia,” he told Xinhua.

khmertimeskh