Cambodia–Malaysia trade rises 42% in January

PHNOM PENH, 17 February 2026 (KPT) – Bilateral trade between Cambodia and Malaysia surged 42 percent year-on-year in January, reaching more than US$125 million, as import patterns shifted amid regional border tensions, officials said Tuesday.

According to the General Department of Customs and Excise, Cambodian exports to Malaysia totaled US$21 million, a sharp 77.3 percent increase, while imports from Malaysia rose 36.2 percent to US$103 million compared with the same period last year.

Pen Sovicheat, Secretary of State and spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, said the expansion highlights Cambodia’s ability to maintain key regional and global markets, strengthen supply chains and sustain buyer confidence despite external pressures.

Geopolitical analyst Dr. Chey Tech noted that rising imports from Malaysia may reflect Cambodia’s diversification of supply sources, with some goods redirected from Thailand following border-related tensions and consumer-driven shifts in purchasing behaviour.

In 2025, total bilateral trade between Cambodia and Malaysia reached US$1.1 billion, up 24.66 percent year-on-year. Malaysia remains Cambodia’s seventh-largest trading partner, underscoring deepening commercial ties within ASEAN as regional supply chains continue to adjust.