Trade Profile

flag Cambodia Cambodia: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Cambodia is very open to international trade, which represents nearly 132% of GDP (World Bank, 2023). 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 gold, clothing, footwear, timber and rubber. Illegal timber trade (especially towards Vietnam) is one of Cambodia's greatest challenges despite an official export ban on timber. Imports are led by Gold (26.1% of imports in 2021), refined petroleum (6.5%) and clothing (6.4%).

The main trading partners are the US (42.6%), China (8.6%), Japan (6.2%) and Canada (5.4%), while the bulk of imports comes from China (33.7%), Singapore (17.8%) and Thailand with 12.1% (Comtrade, 2022). It should be noticed that the European Commission decided to withdraw part of the tariff preferences granted to Cambodia under the "Everything But Arms" (EBA) trade scheme due to the serious and systematic violations of human rights. Such measure came into effect on 12th August 2020 and should affect approximately 20% of Cambodia's exports to the EU, including sugar, selected garment and footwear products, and all travel goods.

Cambodia has a structural trade deficit concerning goods. In 2021, total exports of merchandise amounted to USD 17.36 billion USD, with imports growing at a faster pace, to reach USD 28.36 billion USD. Cambodia is usually a net exporter of services (mainly thanks to the tourism sector), but it is not the case since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. When computing both goods and services, the country’s trade deficit stood at 132% of GDP in 2021 (up from 124% one year earlier (WTO & World Bank, 2022). Cambodia recorded a trade deficit of 1676 KHR Billion (411.77 million USD) in November of 2022 (National Bank of Cambodia, 2023).

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20172018201920202021
Imports of Goods (million USD) 15,49517,48920,27919,13128,369
Exports of Goods (million USD) 12,08912,70014,82517,21517,362
Imports of Services (million USD) 2,7143,0343,2382,0452,104
Exports of Services (million USD) 4,3915,2495,8541,815657
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 41711-923
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 51413-1113
Trade Balance (million USD) -4,278-5,844-7,255-2,544-11,257
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 125125124124132
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 6463626268
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 6162616165

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

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Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2021
United States 42.6%
China 8.6%
Japan 6.2%
Canada 5.4%
Germany 5.0%
See More Countries 32.1%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2021
China 33.7%
Singapore 17.8%
Thailand 12.1%
Vietnam 11.0%
Switzerland 3.4%
See More Countries 22.1%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

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Main Products

17.6 bn USD of products exported in 2021
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 8.5%
Jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and...Jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles, knitted or crocheted (excl. wadded waistcoats) 7.7%
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) 6.7%
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) 4.5%
T-shirts, singlets and other vests, knitted or...T-shirts, singlets and other vests, knitted or crocheted 4.2%
See More Products 68.4%
28.7 bn USD of products imported in 2021
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 20.7%
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) 6.4%
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 5.6%
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) 3.6%
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 2.9%
See More Products 60.8%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

 

To go further, check out our service Import Export Flows

 
 

Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Latest Available Data

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Commercial Policy

International Economic Cooperation
Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Member of Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), AFTA and the ASEAN - China Free Trade Area.
Assessment of Commercial Policy
Country’s commercial policy
Barriers to exchanges
Average Customs Duty (Excluding Agricultural Products)
16.96%
 
 

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
 
 
 

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Latest Update: September 2023