Kingdom’s Tire Exports Surge 42% in Q1 as Industrial Expansion Gains Pace

PHNOM PENH, April 27, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia’s tire exports surged more than 42 percent in the first quarter of 2026, underscoring the country’s accelerating industrial expansion and growing role in value added manufacturing, official data showed Monday.

The Ministry of Commerce said tire shipments earned over US$472 million between January and March, up from US$331 million in the same period last year. The United States remained the largest destination, followed by Brazil, Canada, France and the United Kingdom.

Industry leaders attributed the growth to supportive government policies and rising foreign investment. Ken Oudommonysinat, CEO of Sailun Group, said investor friendly measures had boosted production and export capacity.

Men Sopheak, president of the Cambodia Rubber Development Association, pointed to the country’s abundant natural rubber supply as a key advantage, enabling both domestic processing and supply to foreign invested factories.

Cambodia now hosts eight tire manufacturing plants across several special economic zones, marking a significant step in industrial diversification. Officials said the rapid growth highlights Cambodia’s shift toward higher value manufacturing and strengthens its position in regional and global supply chains.

In 2025, Cambodia earned over $1.38 billion from tire exports, a 57.86% increase compared to $874 million in 2024.