Cambodia–South Korea Trade Surges 31.5% in First Five Months

PHNOM PENH, June 22, 2026 (KPT) – Bilateral trade between Cambodia and South Korea rose sharply in the first five months of 2026, reaching more than US$476 million, a 31.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year, official data showed Monday.

The General Department of Customs and Excise said Cambodia exported goods worth US$170 million to South Korea from January to May, up 36.7 percent year‑on‑year. Imports totaled US$306 million, an increase of 28.8 percent.

Officials said the surge reflects momentum from the Cambodia–South Korea Free Trade Agreement, which came into force at the end of 2022 and reduced tariffs on a wide range of products, facilitating greater market access and commercial exchanges.

The Cambodian government has encouraged South Korean investors to expand in high‑potential sectors including modern agriculture, food processing, automotive manufacturing, electronics and digital technology. Tourism, hospitality and healthcare are also seen as areas of strong growth.

Lim Heng, Vice President of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, said Cambodia’s trade growth is supported by broad access to international markets through preferential arrangements with the EU’s Everything But Arms scheme, trade relations with the United States, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and bilateral FTAs with South Korea and the UAE.

According to GDCE, bilateral trade between Cambodia and South Korea reached US$923 million in 2025, up 9.8 percent from the previous year.