On August 10, 2026, the container terminal of Phnom Penh Port just completed the loading operation of a batch of rubber products exported to China, and the latest trade data from the Cambodian Customs General Administration was simultaneously released to the public. In the first seven months, the total volume of national commodity trade exceeded 44 billion US dollars, with a year-on-year growth rate of over 20%. On the cargo ships traveling between the ports, there were textile products sent to the United States and mechanical and electrical components imported from China. The different directions of cargo flow together outlined a new outline of Cambodia's foreign trade map.

Significant differentiation in core market performance

In the first seven months of 2026, Cambodia's total commodity trade volume climbed from 36.32 billion US dollars in the same period of 2025 to 44.07 billion US dollars, with exports increasing by 21.3% year-on-year to 20.81 billion US dollars and imports increasing by 21.4% year-on-year to 23.26 billion US dollars. The growth rate of imports and exports was almost completely synchronized, and the export coverage rate remained stable at 89.5%.

As Cambodia's largest trading partner, the bilateral trade volume between China and Cambodia increased by 23.9% in the first seven months, reaching 13.63 billion US dollars, accounting for about 31% of the country's total trade volume. Among them, exports to China increased by 24.2%, reaching 1.1 billion US dollars, imports from China increased by 23.8%, reaching 12.52 billion US dollars, and the bilateral trade deficit reached 11.42 billion US dollars, far exceeding the overall trade deficit of Cambodia. The US market continued its strong performance, with bilateral trade surging 32.2% to reach 9.42 billion US dollars. Exports to the US increased by 30.6% to 9.05 billion US dollars, driven by finished products such as clothing and footwear. Imports from the US increased by 87% year-on-year to 377 million US dollars, and the trade surplus with the US expanded to 8.67 billion US dollars. The US remains Cambodia's largest single surplus source country and core foreign exchange income channel.

Continuous improvement in regional trade balance

The trade relations between Cambodia and its neighboring countries are showing a healthier development trend, with bilateral trade volume increasing by 8.2% in the first seven months, reaching 5.35 billion US dollars. Among them, Cambodia's exports to Vietnam increased by 12.4%, reaching 2.73 billion US dollars, while imports from Vietnam only increased by 4.2%, reaching 2.62 billion US dollars, directly reversing the deficit of 84 million US dollars in the same period of 2025 and achieving a small surplus of 112 million US dollars.

The export coverage rate between Cambodia and Vietnam has increased from 96.6% to 104.3%. The continuous improvement of cross-border logistics channels between the two countries has greatly improved the efficiency of two-way circulation of agricultural and light industrial products, and the balance of regional trade has been continuously enhanced. From the overall national data, Cambodia's trade deficit slightly expanded from 1.99 billion US dollars in the same period of 2025 to 2.44 billion US dollars in the first seven months, without the risk of significant imbalance. Keywords: container terminal, logistics trade

The foreign trade performance report for the first seven months of 2026 is a direct reflection of Cambodia's strong two-way growth in imports and exports. On one hand, the surplus in traditional European and American markets continues to strengthen the foreign exchange fundamentals, and on the other hand, the deep cooperation in trade between China and Cambodia inputs necessary production materials for local industries. Coupled with the balanced development of trade with neighboring countries in the region, Cambodia's foreign trade is on a high growth track, gradually exploring more resilient trade structure optimization paths.Editor/Cheng Liting