Cambodia–South Korea trade jumps 17.6% in January, reflecting impact of bilateral FTA

PHNOM PENH, Feb 19, 2026 (KPT) – Bilateral trade between Cambodia and South Korea rose 17.6 percent year-on-year in January to more than $83 million, reflecting the growing impact of the Cambodia–Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA), official data showed Thursday.

The General Department of Customs and Excise said Cambodian exports to South Korea reached $34 million, up 23.5 percent from the same month last year. Imports totaled $49 million, marking a 13.8 percent increase.

Officials said the strong start highlights the effectiveness of the CKFTA, which came into force at the end of 2022 and reduced tariffs across a wide range of products, facilitating smoother trade flows.

The government has encouraged Korean investment in priority sectors such as modern agriculture, food processing, automotive assembly, electronics and digital technology, aiming to deepen industrial cooperation and diversify Cambodia’s export base.

Commerce Minister Cham Nimul recently urged Korean businesses to explore opportunities in Cambodia, stressing the benefits of leveraging the CKFTA, the ASEAN–Korea Free Trade Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

In 2025, total trade between the two countries reached $923 million, up 1.41 percent from the previous year, underscoring steady momentum in economic ties.