Cambodia-Thailand Border Tensions Trigger Sharp Decline in Bilateral Trade

By Deth Leng

PHNOM PENH, June 1, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia said Monday that ongoing border tensions with Thailand have led to a sharp fall in bilateral trade, with imports of some Thai products plunging by more than 70 percent amid disruptions to cross-border commerce.

Pen Sovicheat, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, said the decline followed recent Cambodia–Thailand border disputes and Thailand’s unilateral restrictions.

“Some goods have declined by 70 percent, but imports have not stopped entirely,” Sovicheat told reporters, noting that automobile and agricultural machinery parts were still entering Cambodia, while imports of fuel, gas, vegetables, and fruits had been completely halted.

He added that certain goods continued to arrive via sea and air transport, stressing that trade relations between the two countries had not been fully suspended.

According to the General Department of Customs and Excise, bilateral trade totaled $925 million in the first four months of 2026, down 38.1 percent compared to the same period last year. Cambodia’s exports to Thailand reached $235 million, a drop of more than 28 percent, while imports fell to $690 million, down 40.8 percent.

Officials said the situation was reshaping trade patterns between the two neighbors and encouraging greater consumption of locally made products as well as imports from alternative sources.