Cambodia exported garment, footwear and travel goods worth 20 percent more than $2.9 billion in the first quarter, as per a report from the General Department of Customs and Excise.
This compared to $2.4 billion in goods sold for the same period last year. Year-to-date (January-March) there was an increase of 23 percent in exports of apparel and textiles valued at $2.16 billion from $1.75 billion.
Sector wise travel goods saw the highest growth of 16.6 percent to $428 million from $367 million, while footwear saw 6.9 percent higher sales to $346 million from $324 million. As a revenue earner – the garment, textile, footwear and travel goods industry brings in the highest forex for Cambodia. The US, European Union and ASEAN countries are its largest export markets for textiles, garments, footwear and travel goods. There are about 1,300 factories in the country working in this sector, employing 900,000 workers.
Cambodia’s trade with other ASEAN countries rose by nearly 19 percent to $4.32 billion in the first quarter, as per a report from the Commerce Ministry.
Cambodia, which exports agricultural products, clothes, footwear, travel goods, electronics, and bicycles to ASEAN countries, saw a 33 percent increase to $1.77 billion year-to-date (January to March).
Cambodia’s international trade volume has increased despite a subdued global economy. Penn Sovicheat, Secretary of State and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce, recently said that despite the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and lower purchasing power globally, exports remained high. There has been no change in the volume of orders, he said.
With the exports continuing to grow in Cambodia, the country saw a 7.2 percent increase in factories. By the end of 2023, Cambodia had as many as 2,125 operational factories, as per a report by the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation. (khmertimeskh)
