Phnom Penh: Cambodia has earned more than $22.3 billion from exports in the first nine months of 2025, marking a 12.9 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE). The United States remains the Kingdom’s largest export market.
Strong Overall Trade Growth
The GDCE report released on October 10 indicated that total trade volume with major countries reached $46.9 billion between January and September, a 14.8 percent rise over last year’s nine-month period. Imports amounted to $24.6 billion, up by 16.6 percent.
United States and China Lead as Key Partners
The United States was Cambodia’s biggest export destination, accounting for over $9.2 billion—an increase of 22 percent. Total trade between the two countries reached $9.56 billion, a 22.6 percent rise from last year, making the US the second-largest trade partner after China.
China retained the top position in trade volume, with bilateral trade reaching $14.2 billion, up 27.5 percent. Cambodian exports to China stood at $1.18 billion, down 7.7 percent, while imports surged 32 percent to more than $13 billion.
Vietnam ranked third with nearly $3 billion in trade, followed by Japan at $1.16 billion, reflecting respective increases of 7.8 percent and 10.2 percent.
Rice Exports Remain a Key Contributor
During the same period, Cambodia exported over 596,000 tonnes of milled rice to 69 countries and territories, generating nearly $409 million, according to data from the Cambodia Rice Federation. Of this, more than 248,000 tonnes went to European markets, earning $192 million. China and Hong Kong together imported 143,187 tonnes valued at about $85 million.
Exports to seven ASEAN countries reached 131,544 tonnes, worth approximately $67 million. In addition, Cambodia exported more than 5.2 million tonnes of paddy rice to neighboring countries, generating over $1.2 billion in revenue.
Diversified Export Portfolio
The GDCE highlighted that Cambodia’s top export products included garments, textiles and non-textile apparel components, rubber and rubber-based goods, leather products, footwear, electrical machinery and devices, furniture, nuts, fruits, and vehicle parts.
Key Imports Reflect Industrial Growth
On the import side, Cambodia’s major goods included oil, machinery, vehicle parts, electronic equipment, plastics and plastic-made products, synthetic fibers, rubber-based materials, and steel. The composition reflects the country’s ongoing industrial expansion and infrastructure development needs.
Outlook
Analysts say the sharp rise in trade volume demonstrates Cambodia’s growing integration into regional and global value chains. With continued export diversification and expanding markets in the US, China, and ASEAN, the Kingdom is poised to maintain steady growth momentum through the end of 2025.
Also read, Global Rice Output Set to Hit Record High in 2025–26: FAO
