Cambodia’s Foreign Reserves Rise to $27.5bn, Covering Eight Months of Imports

PHNOM PENH, Jan 25, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodia’s international reserves climbed to more than $27.5 billion in 2025, sufficient to cover around eight months of imports, the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) said in a report.

The central bank described the level as “high and appropriate,” providing a buffer against external shocks and underpinning economic stability.

Hong Vanak, an economist at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the reserves underscored the government’s ability to meet international payment obligations and ensure continued access to imported goods.

“International reserves are a vital national asset,” he said, adding that maintaining coverage of at least eight months of imports was key to safeguarding stability and investor confidence.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) considers reserves equivalent to three months of imports adequate for developing economies.

NBC data show Cambodia’s reserves stood at more than $21 billion in 2020, covering 13.4 months of imports, before falling to $17 billion in 2022 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The trend reversed in subsequent years, rising to $19 billion in 2023 and $22 billion in 2024, before reaching $27.5 billion last year.