Cambodia imported more than $14 billion worth of goods from China in the first 10 months of the year, accounting for over half of the Kingdom’s total imports during this period.
The General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) reported that between January and October 2025, Cambodia–China trade totalled $15.95 billion, an increase of 28.9% over the same period in 2024, when the total stood at $12.38 billion.
Cambodia exported $1.33 billion worth of goods to China — a decrease of 6.6% — while imports reached $14.62 billion, rising by 33.5%.
This resulted in a trade deficit of $13.28 billion, up from the $9.52 billion recorded during the same period in 2024.
According to the GDCE, imports from China accounted for 52.9% of Cambodia’s total import expenditure, which was $27.63 billion.
Hong Vanak, an economist at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, told The Post on 18 November that the strong relationship between the Cambodian and Chinese governments, along with geographic and market factors, has driven continuous growth in trade between the two countries. He added that China is recognised as one of the world’s major sources of raw materials, not only for Cambodia but for many countries.
He believed that as a developing country, Cambodia will continue to import more goods from China in the future.
“As a major supplier of raw materials and components with high quality and reasonable prices, China will continue to be an important source for Cambodia,” he added.
Regarding the large trade deficit, the economist stressed that it is not a cause for concern, as most imports from China are raw materials, used by Cambodian factories and enterprises to manufacture export goods.
To strengthen Cambodia–China trade and investment cooperation, Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol, first vice-chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), met with a delegation from the China-Asia Economic Development Association led by Chen Jun, executive vice-president and secretary-general of the China-Asia Economic Development Association, at the CDC on November 18.
The meeting focused on examining ways to enhance and expand economic cooperation, trade and investment between Cambodia and China within the Asian region.
Chanthol welcomed the Chinese delegation’s interest in exploring investment opportunities in Cambodia. He also highlighted the extensive investment opportunities in Cambodia under the facilitation of the CDC, which serves as the “Etat-Major” and One-Stop Service of the Royal Government of Cambodia responsible for overseeing and managing development cooperation, private investment and special economic zones (SEZs).
Chen expressed his intention to encourage more member companies involved in technology and various processing industries to study the feasibility of investment opportunities in Cambodia.
GDCE data showed that in 2024, Cambodia–China trade totalled $15.19 billion, an increase of 23.8% compared to 2023. Of this, imports stood at $13.44 billion, up 24.6%, while exports to China reached $1.75 billion, up 18.4%.
