Cambodia earns nearly $7 billion from RCEP exports in the first eight months of 2025

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Sept.16, 2025) — Cambodia exported goods worth approximately $6.63 billion to member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in the first eight months of 2025, marking a 9.5% increase from $6.05 billion during the same period last year, according to a Commerce Ministry report released Monday.

Total trade between Cambodia and RCEP members reached $26.35 billion from January to August, representing a 15% year-over-year increase. Imports from RCEP countries increased by nearly 17% to $19.72 billion, compared to $16.87 billion in the same period in 2024.

The report said trade with RCEP partners accounted for 61.5% of Cambodia’s overall international trade volume of $42.8 billion during the eight months.

Cambodia’s top five RCEP trading partners were Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, China, and Japan. From January to August, exports to these countries totaled $6.65 billion.

RCEP, initiated by ASEAN, is the world’s largest free trade agreement, comprising 15 Asia-Pacific nations — the 10 ASEAN member states plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

Commerce Ministry spokesperson Penn Sovicheat said Cambodia is benefiting significantly from RCEP, especially in agricultural exports such as rice, bananas, mangoes, longans, and pepper. He added that the agreement, which took effect in 2022, has helped reduce tariffs and create long-term export growth opportunities.

“RCEP has become a new driver for Cambodia’s export expansion,” Sovicheat said. “Tariff reductions under the agreement allow Cambodia to seize new market opportunities.”

The ministry noted that RCEP member countries represent about 2.2 billion people — roughly 30% of the global population — and contribute $26.2 trillion to global GDP, accounting for 30% of the world’s total. They also make up around 28% of global trade.

In 2024, Cambodia’s total international trade reached $54.74 billion, up 16.9% from 2023. Key export products included garments, footwear, machinery, electrical equipment, leather goods, animal hair accessories, cereals, rubber and furniture.