AKP Phnom Penh, January 09, 2026 --

Cambodia has achieved a historic equilibrium in its trade balance, with exports and imports now reaching nearly equal levels, Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Sun Chanthol announced Friday.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Ministry of Commerce’s annual general meeting, H.E. Sun Chanthol, who also serves as the First Vice-President of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), hailed the development as a significant milestone for the nation's economic stability.

"Currently, Cambodia’s exports and imports are approximately equal in volume, creating an exceptionally strong trade balance," the Deputy Prime Minister said. "This is a major shift from the past, when we relied heavily on imports while our exports remained limited."

The announcement comes despite a volatile global landscape marked by shifting supply chains, rising protectionism, and geopolitical tensions.

Data released by Minister of Commerce H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul during the two-day meeting revealed that Cambodia’s total trade volume reached US$62.24 billion in 2025, an 18 percent increase year-on-year.

Exports accounted for US$31.28 billion of that total, marking a 17 percent rise. The United States remains Cambodia’s largest export destination, absorbing 41 percent of goods, followed by ASEAN (18 percent) and the European Union (16 percent).

Representing Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet at the event, H.E. Sun Chanthol warned that global fragmentation and regional conflicts continue to pose risks to the Kingdom's growth trajectory.

"The rapid and unpredictable evolution of the global economic situation... could exert pressure on economic growth and disrupt the Royal Government’s efforts in socio-economic development," he cautioned.

To mitigate these risks, the Deputy Prime Minister urged the Ministry to remain "sharp and focused" in its 2026 strategy, aligning closely with the Royal Government’s "Pentagonal Strategy-Phase 1." He emphasised the need for realistic economic measures to transform these global challenges into domestic opportunities for investment and job creation.

The Ministry’s 2026 roadmap aims to further diversify export markets and strengthen Cambodia's resilience against the "unilateralism" currently reshaping global trade.

By K. Rithy Reak