U.S. Remains Cambodia’s Top Export Market as Shipments Surge

PHNOM PENH, Feb 11, 2026 (KPT) – The United States remained Cambodia’s largest export destination in January, with shipments rising 47.6 percent year-on-year to $1.28 billion, official data showed Wednesday.

The General Department of Customs and Excise said total bilateral trade reached $1.32 billion, up 48 percent from the same month last year. Cambodian exports accounted for the bulk, while imports from the U.S. climbed 63.5 percent to nearly $39 million.

Key Cambodian exports include garments, textiles, footwear, travel goods, bicycles and consumer products. Imports from the U.S. feature vehicles, machinery, jewelry, cosmetics and electronics.

Commerce Ministry spokesperson Pen Sovicheat credited the surge to successful trade negotiations that cut tariff rates from 49 percent to 19, preserving access for Cambodia’s garment and footwear industries.

Economist Ky Sereyvath of the Royal Academy of Cambodia cautioned that reliance on the U.S. market carries risks, urging diversification and stronger vocational training to meet industry demand.

In 2025, Cambodia–U.S. trade totaled more than $13 billion, up 29 percent, with Cambodian exports about $13 billion and U.S. exports at $417 million — momentum that has carried into early 2026.