Cambodia‑Thailand Trade Plunges Nearly 40% as Border Conflict Disrupts Supply Chains

PHNOM PENH, May 11, 2026 (KPT) — Trade between Cambodia and Thailand fell sharply in the first four months of 2026 as border closures and conflict‑related disruptions weighed heavily on cross‑border supply chains, official data showed Monday.

The General Department of Customs and Excise said bilateral trade totaled just over US$925 million from January to April, down 38.1 percent compared with the same period last year. Cambodia’s exports to Thailand reached US$235 million, declining more than 28 percent year‑on‑year, while imports dropped 40.8 percent to US$690 million.

Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol said the border conflict had forced the closure of crossings, preventing goods from moving normally and disrupting supply chains for businesses reliant on imported production materials. He said the government had encouraged companies to shift cargo transportation from land routes to maritime shipping through ports to maintain trade flows.

GDCE director Kun Nhem said imports from Thailand now mainly consist of daily consumer goods and industrial inputs. “Imports for consumption have continued to decline, prohibited goods have dropped to zero, and fuel and gas imports have completely fallen to zero,” he said.

Some industrial machinery and agricultural equipment continue to enter Cambodia to support manufacturing, including tractors, harvesting machines and industrial components used by major investors such as Minebea and DENSO.

The sharp decline underscores the economic impact of prolonged border tensions on regional trade and logistics networks, particularly for industries dependent on cross‑border supply chains. Cambodia‑Thailand trade reached US$3.65 billion in 2025, already down 14.9 percent from the previous year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.