flag Cambodia Cambodia: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Cambodia is very open to international trade, which represents nearly 132% of GDP (World Bank, latest data available). The country has been a member of ASEAN since 1999 and of the WTO since 2004, and it has committed to removing all tariff barriers on imports from ASEAN members. Cambodia began to reform its legal and regulatory systems (intellectual property rights, health rules, non-tariff barriers to trade, etc.), however, in practice, many obstacles remain, including governance issues and a lack of transparency. Cambodia also suffers from logistical and infrastructural constraints. The country mainly exports garments and footwear; while imports are led gold, refined petroleum, and clothing (data Comtrade).

In 2022, the main export partners were the United States (43.6%), China (6.0%), Japan (5.7%), Canada (5.4%), Germany (5.3%), and the United Kingdom (4.3%); with imports coming chiefly from China (34.9%), Vietnam (13.2%), Thailand (12.8%), Singapore (10.8%), Switzerland (4.8%), and Indonesia (3.0%).

Cambodia has a structural trade deficit concerning goods. In 2022, total exports of merchandise amounted to USD 22.4 billion (+16.4% y-o-y), with imports growing at a slower pace, to reach USD 29.8 billion (+4.2%). Cambodia is usually a net exporter of services (mainly thanks to the tourism sector), but the trend reversed in recent years: in 2022, services exports reached USD 2.3 billion against USD 2.7 billion in imports (data WTO). When computing both goods and services, the country’s trade deficit stood at 13.5% of GDP in 2022 (up from 4.4% one year earlier - data World Bank). According to the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE), Cambodia's international trade stood at USD 46.82 billion in 2023, registering a decrease of 1.9% compared to 2022. While exports saw a marginal increase of 1.8%, imports declined by 5%. In 2023, Cambodia's total exports amounted to USD 22.64 billion, while imports reached USD 24.18 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of USD 1.53 billion for the country. China retained its position as Cambodia's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at USD 12.26 billion. The United States remained the primary export destination, accounting for 39.3% of total exports, worth USD 8.89 billion. Exports to the U.S. experienced a slight decrease of 0.8%, whereas imports plummeted by 17.7%. Meanwhile, Cambodia's exports to China surged by 19.2% to USD 11.47 billion, with imports rising by 3.3% to USD 10.78 billion. Consequently, Cambodia faced a trade deficit of USD 9.31 billion with China while recording a surplus of USD 8.64 billion with the U.S.. In the same year, while many of Cambodia's exports saw growth, the garments, footwear, and travel goods sector faced persistent challenges, beginning in the latter part of 2022. Exports of knitted apparel and clothing accessories dropped by 14%, from USD 6.36 billion in 2022 to USD 5.47 billion in 2023. Similarly, non-knitted varieties decreased by 10.4%, from USD 2.66 billion to USD 2.39 billion. Overall, GFT exports fell by 13.3% compared to 2022. Industry analysts attribute this decline to reduced orders from U.S. and European markets, leading to lower imports of raw materials and finished consumer goods.

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20192020202120222023
Imports of Goods (million USD) 20,27919,11428,58329,80524,386
Exports of Goods (million USD) 14,82517,71619,30722,47223,470
Imports of Services (million USD) 3,2742,0252,0902,7543,124
Exports of Services (million USD) 6,0861,7676572,3185,128
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 11-92322n/a
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 13-111321n/a
Trade Balance (million USD) -7,255-2,544-11,205-8,826n/a
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 124124132162n/a
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 62626885n/a
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 61616578n/a

Source: WTO – World Trade Organisation ; World Bank - Latest available data.

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Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2022
United States 43.6%
China 6.0%
Japan 5.7%
Canada 5.4%
Germany 5.3%
See More Countries 34.0%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2022
China 34.9%
Vietnam 13.2%
Thailand 12.8%
Singapore 10.8%
Switzerland 4.8%
See More Countries 23.5%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

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Main Products

20.6 bn USD of products exported in 2022
Trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, executive-cases,...Trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, executive-cases, briefcases, school satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases, camera cases, musical instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers; travelling-bags, insulated food or beverage bags, toilet bags, rucksacks, handbags, shopping-bags, wallets, purses, map-cases, cigarette-cases, tobacco-pouches, tool bags, sports bags, bottle-cases, jewellery boxes, powder-boxes, cutlery cases and similar containers, of leather or of composition leather, of sheeting of plastics, of textile materials, of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard, or wholly or mainly covered with such materials or with paper 8.6%
Jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and...Jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles, knitted or crocheted (excl. wadded waistcoats) 7.6%
Women's or girls' suits, ensembles, jackets,...Women's or girls' suits, ensembles, jackets, blazers, dresses, skirts, divided skirts, trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts, knitted or crocheted (excl. wind-jackets and similar articles, slips, petticoats and panties, tracksuits, ski suits and swimwear) 6.0%
Diodes, transistors and similar semiconductor...Diodes, transistors and similar semiconductor devices; photosensitive semiconductor devices, incl. photovoltaic cells whether or not assembled in modules or made up into panels (excl. photovotaic generators); light emitting diodes; mounted piezoelectric crystals; parts thereof 5.0%
Women's or girls' suits, ensembles, jackets,...Women's or girls' suits, ensembles, jackets, blazers, dresses, skirts, divided skirts, trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts (excl. knitted or crocheted, wind-jackets and similar articles, slips, petticoats and panties, tracksuits, ski suits and swimwear) 4.6%
See More Products 68.2%
29.9 bn USD of products imported in 2022
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought...Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought or not further worked than semi-manufactured or in powder form 15.0%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 8.3%
Fabrics, knitted or crocheted, of a width of > 30...Fabrics, knitted or crocheted, of a width of > 30 cm (excl. warp knit fabrics "incl. those made on galloon knitting machines", those containing by weight >= 5% of elastomeric yarn or rubber thread, and pile fabrics, incl. "long pile", looped pile fabrics, labels, badges and similar articles, and knitted or crocheted fabrics, impregnated, coated, covered or laminated) 6.3%
Knitted or crocheted fabrics, of a width > 30 cm,...Knitted or crocheted fabrics, of a width > 30 cm, containing by weight >= 5% of elastomeric yarn or rubber thread (excl. pile fabrics, incl. "long pile", looped pile fabrics, labels, badges and similar articles, and knitted or crocheted fabrics, impregnated, coated, covered or laminated) 3.1%
Woven fabrics containing predominantly, but < 85%...Woven fabrics containing predominantly, but < 85% synthetic staple fibres by weight, other than those mixed principally or solely with cotton 3.0%
See More Products 64.3%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

 

To go further, check out our service Import controls and Export Controls

To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows

 
 

Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Latest Available Data

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List of tariffs and local taxes that apply to your product on our service Customs Duties

 

Trade Compliance

International Conventions
Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
International Economic Cooperation
Member of Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), AFTA and the ASEAN - China Free Trade Area.
Useful Resources
National Customs
National Organisation of Intellectual Property
Website of the Department of Intellectual Property in Cambodia
 
 
 

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Latest Update: May 2024