Cambodia earned more than $14 billion from exports in the first half of 2025.
A July 10 report from the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia (GDCE) showed that Cambodia exported goods worth a total of $14.29 billion, marking a 16.2% increase from $12.29 billion in the first half of 2024. At the same time, Cambodia imported $16.28 billion worth of goods, up 18% from $13.8 billion.
International January-June trade volume amounted to $30.57 billion, up 17.2% over the $26.09 billion recorded in the same period in 2024. This meant Cambodia had a trade deficit of around $1.98 billion, up from $1.5 billion in the first half of 2024.
China remains Cambodia’s largest trading partner, followed by the US, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Spain and the UK.
Economist Hong Vanak from the Royal Academy of Cambodia told The Post on July 10 that Cambodia’s political stability, investment-friendly legal framework, large young labour force and diverse export markets have helped attract global companies to establish factories and enterprises in Cambodia for export-oriented production.
He believed this positive trend is likely to continue, noting that the Kingdom received numerous new investment projects in the first half of 2025.
Vanak added that Cambodia has also entered trade agreements with major countries such as China, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, along with regional agreements like the RCEP. Additionally, Cambodia has double taxation avoidance agreements with more than 10 countries.
“I am optimistic that Cambodia’s export earnings will continue to grow, even though the current state of global economic growth remains unclear,” he added.
According to Vanak, Cambodia’s key export products include garments, travel goods, footwear, bicycles, vehicle tyres, electronic components and agricultural products.
Sun Chanthol, first vice-president of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), told a July 8 press conference on Cambodia–US customs tariff cooperation that from January to July 4, the CDC had approved 396 investment projects. They had a combined investment capital of around $6 billion and are expected to create approximately 271,000 jobs. This is almost equivalent to the 414 investment projects approved in 2024.
He reiterated that Cambodia still holds strong potential and opportunities to attract direct foreign investment.
In 2024, Cambodia’s total trade volume reached $54.74 billion, up 16.9% over 2023. Of that, exports accounted for $26.2 billion, an increase of 15.7%, while imports amounted to $28.54 billion, rising by 18%, according to the GDCE.
