PHNOM PENH, March 10, 2026 – Cambodia’s trade with the rest of the world rose 17.6% in the first two months of 2026 to $11.11 billion, customs data showed on Tuesday, as exports to the United States remained strong and imports from China continued to dominate the kingdom’s trade structure.
Exports in January-February reached about $5.22 billion, up 17.2% from a year earlier, while imports rose 18.0% to $5.88 billion, leaving Cambodia with a goods trade deficit of roughly $657 million, wider than in the same period last year.
China remained Cambodia’s largest trading partner, with two-way trade at $3.57 billion. Cambodian exports to China totalled about $295.7 million, while imports from China reached $3.28 billion, underlining Phnom Penh’s continued dependence on Chinese industrial, consumer and intermediate goods.
The United States ranked second, with bilateral trade reaching about $2.34 billion, up 39.9% year on year. Cambodia exported $2.26 billion worth of goods to the U.S., while imports from the U.S. stood at about $80.3 million, reinforcing the central role of U.S. demand in supporting Cambodia’s manufacturing-led export model.
The latest figures extend momentum seen in January, when Cambodia’s total trade reached about $6.0 billion, up 19% from a year earlier, according to earlier customs data. Officials and state-linked commentary have pointed to tariff preferences under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and Cambodia’s bilateral trade deals with China, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates as supportive factors for trade expansion.
The data suggest Cambodia entered 2026 with external demand holding up despite a fragile global environment and regional political frictions. But the composition of trade also highlights a familiar structural imbalance: strong export performance into Western markets alongside a large import bill led by China, leaving growth intact but value-chain dependence unresolved.
