Cambodia’s trade surges 19% in January to $6 billion as exports outpace imports

PHNOM PENH, Feb 10, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodia’s international trade rose sharply at the start of the year, climbing 19 percent in January to more than US$6 billion, with exports expanding faster than imports, official data showed Tuesday.

Figures from the General Department of Customs and Excise reported exports of US$2.91 billion, up 26.6 percent year on year, while imports reached US$3.10 billion, an increase of 22.5 percent.

Key export products included garments, footwear, travel goods, automotive tires, spare parts, electrical components and furniture. Major trading partners remained China, ASEAN member states, the United States, the European Union, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Australia and India.

Lim Heng, vice president of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, said rising investment projects had expanded domestic production capacity. He noted that Cambodia continues to benefit from preferential trade schemes such as the EU’s Everything But Arms (EBA) and the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), as well as free trade agreements with China and South Korea.

Pen Sovicheat, secretary of state and spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, said Cambodia had maintained strong access to global markets, reinforcing its role in regional and international supply chains while sustaining buyer confidence.

Economic researcher Ky Sereyvath of the Royal Academy of Cambodia observed that although some sectors face pressure, industry, manufacturing and exports continue to drive growth and employment.

He highlighted that around 30 percent of Cambodia’s exports go to the United States, nearly 20 percent to Europe, with the remainder distributed across ASEAN and China.

The Ministry of Commerce previously reported total trade in 2025 reached US$65.25 billion, up 18 percent from 2024, underscoring sustained momentum heading into 2026.