The EU remains a key market for Cambodian products. In the first eight months of 2025, Cambodia exported goods worth more than $3.3 billion to the EU, representing an almost 20% increase over the same period in 2024, while EU imports amounted to nearly $600 million.
According to the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE), from January to August 2025, total trade between Cambodia and the EU reached $3.92 billion — an increase of over 10% compared to the same period in 2024. Exports to the EU totalled $3.36 billion, up 16%, while imports were about $561 million, a 2.5% increase.
Key EU trading partners for Cambodia include Spain, with $788.08 million, Germany, $744.43 million, Netherlands, $673.22 million, France, $384.98 million, Italy, $338.36 million, and Belgium, $302.36 million.
Hong Vanak, an economist at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, told The Post on September 18 that the EU is one of Cambodia’s most important export markets, second only to the US.
He noted that a wide variety of Cambodian products are now available for sale in Europe, adding that most EU countries are developed economies, making it crucial for Cambodia to maintain long-term access to this market.
He explained that in the past, nearly all Cambodian exports to Europe consisted of garments, footwear and travel goods. But now, agricultural products and some electronic components are also being exported to the EU.
“The growth in exports to international markets — especially the EU — reflects Cambodia’s increasing production capacity and the improving quality of Cambodian-made goods. The EU is a very promising market,” he said.
However, he noted that one of the reasons for this favourable export performance is that the EU continues to provide Cambodia with preferential trade systems.
Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Pen Sovicheat previously told the media that these numbers highlight the EU’s importance as an export destination for Cambodia. However, he noted that current growth figures still haven’t returned to pre-Covid-19 levels.
In 2020, following complaints from some of its member states, the EU withdraw about 20% of Cambodia’s access to the Everything But Arms (EBA) trade preferences. This meant that key Cambodian export products such as garments, footwear and travel goods became subject to EU tariffs.
In 2024, total trade between Cambodia and the EU reached $5.33 billion, a year-on-year increase of more than 15% over 2023. Cambodian exports to the EU totalled $4.41 billion, up 20%, while EU imports were valued at $918 million, down slightly more than 3%.
