Cambodia–China trade surges nearly 27% in Q1 2026

PHNOM PENH, April 13, 2026 (KPT) – Trade between Cambodia and China rose nearly 27 percent in the first quarter of 2026, driven by strong import demand and expansion in the manufacturing sector, official data showed Monday.

The General Department of Customs and Excise said bilateral trade reached more than 5 billion dollars from January to March, up 26.8 percent year on year.

Exports to China totaled 459 million dollars, an increase of 12 percent, while imports surged 26.3 percent to 4.69 billion dollars.

Lim Heng, vice president of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, said the growth reflects rising demand for raw materials to support export oriented industries. He noted that while imports far outweigh exports, industrial inputs from China are vital for domestic production and subsequent shipments to markets in Europe and the United States.

Cambodia’s main exports to China include agricultural products, furniture, jewelry and garments, while imports consist largely of raw materials, machinery, construction materials, electronics, vehicles and consumer goods.

In 2025, total trade between the two countries reached 19.73 billion dollars, underscoring China’s role as one of Cambodia’s largest trading partners.