Cambodia–UK Trade Reaches $824M in Nine Months, Boosted by Preferential Access

By Leng Deth

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Oct.30, 2025) — Bilateral trade between Cambodia and the United Kingdom reached more than $824 million in the first nine months of 2025, up 4.92% from $785 million during the same period last year, according to a report from the Ministry of Commerce.

From January to September, Cambodia exported $786 million worth of goods to the UK, a 5.35% increase year-on-year. Meanwhile, imports from the UK totaled $38.45 million, down 3.19% from 2024.

Key Cambodian exports included garments, footwear and bicycles. Commerce Minister Cham Nimul said Cambodia and the UK maintain close ties across various sectors, particularly trade and investment.

Socio-Economic Research and Development Expert Chey Tech noted that bilateral trade has remained strong, thanks in part to the UK’s preferential trading scheme. Cambodia benefits from zero-tariff access under the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which replaced the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) in June 2023.

The UK extended Cambodia’s eligibility under the DCTS until 2032, even after the country graduates from Least Developed Country status in 2029.

In 2024, Cambodia–UK trade reached $1 billion, up 16% from the previous year. Cambodian exports totaled $958.75 million, while imports from the UK fell nearly 30% to $53.7 million.