Despite armed clashes along the Cambodia–Thailand border and Thailand’s unilateral closure of land border crossings since June 2025, trade in goods between the two countries has remained active. In 2025, total bilateral trade reached more than $3.6 billion, a decline of nearly 15 per cent compared to 2024. Thailand continues to rank as Cambodia’s fourth-largest trading partner, after China, the US and Vietnam.
The General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) reported that in 2025, total imports and exports between Cambodia and Thailand amounted to $3,657.2 million, down 14.9 per cent from the $4,295.58 million recorded in 2024. Thai imports were valued at $2,924.35 million, a decrease of 15 per cent, while exports totalled $732.85 million, down 14.1 per cent. Based on these figures, Cambodia recorded a trade deficit of approximately $2,191.5 million in 2025.
In December 2025 alone, total trade between the two countries amounted to $243.13 million, a sharp decline of 35.37 per cent compared to December 2024, when trade stood at $376.21 million. Exports to Thailand in December were valued at $53.12 million, while imports amounted to $190 million.
Chea Chandara, president of the Logistics and Supply Chain Business Association in Cambodia, told The Post that the recent armed conflict along the Cambodia–Thailand land border, initiated by the Thai side, prompted many Cambodians to reduce or boycott the use of Thai products. He added that, at present, there is no land-border transportation of goods between Cambodia and Thailand; instead, trade can only be conducted via transit through Laos, or by waterway and air transport.
“I believe that the growth of domestic production capacity and the trend of supporting locally made products among Cambodian people will result in Thai imports into Cambodia no longer being as large in volume as before,” he said.
He noted that trade flows between the two countries will continue to decline for a prolonged period if the border closure imposed by the Thai side remains in place.
