The amount of money that Cambodia spent on importing goods from China in the first 10 months of 2025 is estimated at over 14 billion dollars, which is equivalent to more than half of the total amount Cambodia spent on imports from all its trade partner countries.
Data from the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia (GDCE) shows that from January to October 2025, trade between Cambodia and China reached a total value of 15.95 billion dollars, an increase of 28.9% compared to the same period in 2024, which was 12.38 billion dollars. Of this total, Cambodia exported 1.33 billion dollars to China, a decrease of 6.6%, while imports of Chinese goods to Cambodia amounted to 14.62 billion dollars, an increase of up to 33.5%.
This amount has brought Cambodia's trade balance to approximately 13.28 billion dollars, up from 9.52 billion dollars during the same period in 2024.
According to GDCE, the money that Cambodia spends on importing goods from China accounts for 52.9% of the total amount Cambodia spends on importing goods from various countries, which amounts to 27.63 billion dollars.
The economist of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, Mr. Hong Vannak, told the Phnom Penh Post on November 18 that the strong relationship between the Cambodian and Chinese governments, along with geographical factors and markets, has caused the amount of trade between the two countries to continuously increase. He added that currently, China is known as a major supplier of raw materials worldwide, not just for Cambodia.
He also said that, as a developing country, Cambodia will continue to increase imports of goods from China in the future.
He emphasised: 'As a source of raw materials and quality components at reasonable prices, China will continue to be an important supplier of goods for Cambodia.'
Regarding the balance of trade, this economist asserts that it is not something to worry about, because most of the goods imported from China are taken by factories/enterprises in Cambodia for further processing before being exported to sell in international markets.
In order to promote Cambodia-China trade and investment cooperation to a higher level, Deputy Prime Minister, First Vice Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), Mr. Sun Chanthol, on November 18, 2025, at the CDC headquarters, held a meeting to discuss work with a delegation from the China-Asia Economic Development Association led by Mr. CHEN Jun, Executive Vice President and Secretary-General of the China-Asia Economic Development Association.
This meeting focuses on studying and examining the potential to strengthen and expand economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two countries, Cambodia and China, within the regional framework of Asia.
In this meeting, Mr Sun Chanthol welcomed the Chinese delegation, who expressed interest in seeking investment opportunities in Cambodia. He also informed the Chinese side about the broad investment opportunities in Cambodia, under the coordination of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, which acts as a secretariat and as the single window of the Royal Government of Cambodia, responsible for overseeing and managing development cooperation, private investment, and special economic zones (SEZs).
In response, Mr CHEN Jun expressed his willingness to promote and bring companies with high potential in technology and various manufacturing industries to study, assess possibilities, and explore opportunities for investment in Cambodia.
GDCE data indicates that in 2024, the total value of trade between Cambodia and China reached 15.19 billion dollars, an increase of 23.8% compared to 2023. Of this amount, Chinese goods imported into Cambodia totaled 13.44 billion dollars, up 24.6%, while Cambodian exports to China amounted to 1.75 billion dollars, an increase of 18.4%.
0 Comments