The trade forecast that Cambodia can achieve in the first five months of 2025 has been claimed by the Ministry of Commerce to be up to $25.5 billion, which is a major economic achievement that Cambodia can achieve. So if Cambodia can continue to weather the storm of hot issues, Cambodia could indeed become an economic tiger in the region.
Entering 2025, the world has indeed experienced many challenges, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the prolongation of the war in Ukraine, geopolitical tensions, and what is new is the new round of trade war between the United States and China, the problem of the US’s retaliatory tariffs on the world, especially Cambodia’s key markets, and The war between India and Pakistan, which are nuclear-armed states.
In this context, Cambodian trade has shown that it can adapt and adapt very well, not only keeping the trade balance stable, but also achieving a proud growth.
According to statistics recently received from the Ministry of Commerce, Cambodia’s international trade volume with various countries can achieve a total trade volume of $25.50 billion in the first five months of 2025.
This trade volume has resulted in Cambodia’s trade volume achieving an increase of approximately 18 percent, compared to the $21.61 billion that Cambodia achieved during the same period in 2024.
Exports achieved a total result of more than $12 billion and imports of approximately $13.48 billion. Exports from January to May 2025 increased by nearly 18 percent, and imports increased by more than 18 percent.
Cambodia’s major trading partners are the member countries of the 15-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the European Union, the United States, etc.
This is what Cambodia has been able to achieve in the past 5 months, and in addition to the traditional problems mentioned above, the impact of the hot war between Israel and Iran in the Middle East The US tariff waivers that will expire on July 9, combined with the recent border tensions that have disrupted trade flows between Cambodia and Thailand, are also new challenges that will require Cambodia to increase its focus to maintain trade flows.
What happened in late May and mid-June and will happen in the second week of July are all new challenges that Cambodia must overcome, but it is believed that Other factors could continue to keep Cambodia afloat in the future.
Those factors are cited as Cambodia’s political stability and economic growth, which have become key drivers in attracting increased foreign and domestic investment. This inflow has contributed to a significant increase in the country’s exports of manufactured goods and processed products to a wide range of markets.
In addition, the government’s active trade and economic diplomacy, led by the successor team, is fostering strong relations with international partners and creating positive impressions of Cambodia.
Now, in addition to continuing to seek export markets for raw materials, Cambodia is also gaining momentum and interest in investing in local processing and packaging to increase value-added exports, for example, cashew nut processing, establishing tire factories that use local raw materials, etc.
Together with the increasing confidence of existing foreign and domestic investors, coupled with a stable political environment and the receipt of various incentive packages, it is conducive to finding profit. Cambodia is well positioned to strengthen its reputation as a growing manufacturing hub in the region. This growth is consistent with and can be sustained by the government’s vision to transform Cambodia into a vibrant economy with a diversified export base.
The emphasis on the importance of continuing reforms and infrastructure development is also a positive response to the problem. Indeed, the wave of problems is indeed overwhelming, but if we can adapt and move towards a clear strengthening of our position, the growth of trade will continue, moving forward.
