The member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) are key trading partners of Cambodia. In the first month of 2026, total trade between Cambodia and all RCEP member countries reached approximately $3.76 billion. Of this, Cambodia exported more than $927 million, an increase of 19.34 per cent, while imports totalled $2.83 billion, up 13.32 per cent.
RCEP, a regional trade agreement initiated by the 10 ASEAN member states in 2012, currently comprises 15 countries: the 10 ASEAN nations plus five dialogue partners — China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. The agreement entered into force in 2022, with a focus on tariff concessions and investment promotion.
According to the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE), Cambodia’s four largest RCEP trading partners include China, Vietnam, Japan and South Korea.
Among the RCEP members which Cambodia exports to, Vietnam ranked first, at $337.54 million (up 21.1 per cent), followed by Japan with $176.3 million (up 16.6 per cent), China with $164.16 million (up 59.3 per cent) and South Korea with $34.6 million (up 23.5 per cent).
China was the greatest source of imports, at $1.74 billion (up 19.9 per cent), followed by Vietnam with $382.21 million (down 2.5 per cent), Singapore with $166.61 million (up 252 per cent), Thailand with $151.02 million (down 49.3 per cent), Malaysia with $103.59 million (up 36.2 per cent) and Japan with $100 million (up 36 per cent).
Hong Vanak, an economist at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, told The Post on February 20 that the RCEP is very important for Cambodian exports, as it helps diversify and expand export markets.
He added that amid global political and economic uncertainty, it is crucial for Cambodia to continue seeking more export markets for its products.
“Every trade agreement, whether bilateral or multilateral, brings positive benefits to the parties involved by sustaining and accelerating national economic growth. Since the RCEP includes many member countries with large economies and markets, it also helps attract more foreign investors, especially major international companies, to invest directly in Cambodia,” he said.
According to Vanak, Cambodia must now strengthen its production capacity and improve flexibility to meet the demands of various buyers.
Penn Sovicheat, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, told The Post that the RCEP has significantly contributed to boosting Cambodia’s international trade by enhancing import-export capacity among the 15 member countries. Benefits Cambodia gains from the agreement include tariff preferences on various goods, technology transfer, skills development and job opportunities driven by foreign direct investment.
He explained that the higher import figures compared to exports should not be a concern, as most imports under RCEP consist of raw materials, spare parts, vehicle components and fuel — largely used in processing and manufacturing for re-export to international markets.
The GDCE reported that in 2025, Cambodia’s total trade with the RCEP member countries was approximately $40.23 billion, up 16.26 per cent over 2024. Exports were valued at $9.8 billion, while imports totalled about $30.44 billion, an increase of 19.58 per cent.
