Phnom penh: Cambodia exported goods worth US$14.29 billion to international markets during the first half of 2025, marking a 16.2 percent year-on-year increase, according to a report released Thursday by the General Department of Customs and Excise.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, key export items included garments, footwear, travel goods, bicycles, car tyres, solar panels, and a range of agricultural products such as rice, rubber, cassava, bananas, mangoes, and longans. The Kingdom’s top five export destinations were identified as the United States, Vietnam, Japan, Canada, and China.

H.E. Penn Sovicheat, Secretary of State and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, stated that the growth in exports reflects continued demand for Cambodian products in international markets, despite global economic challenges. He highlighted the important role of free trade agreements (FTAs)-particularly with China, South Korea, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)-in boosting Cambodia’s export
performance.

‘The implementation of FTAs has significantly reduced tariffs and trade barriers, making Cambodian goods more competitive globally. In increasingly regulated markets, regional trade under frameworks like RCEP is the best option to diversify Cambodia’s export markets,’ he said. Cambodia currently maintains FTAs with China and South Korea and has signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, the country’s imports reached US$16.27 billion during the January-June period, up 18 percent compared to the same period last year, the report noted. Major imported goods included petroleum, raw materials for garment and footwear production, travel goods, vehicles, machinery, electronic appliances, and various consumer products.

The garment, footwear, and travel goods industry remains Cambodia’s largest foreign exchange earner. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, the sector comprises approximately 1,538 factorie
s and branches, employing about 913,000 workers, the majority of whom are women.