Cambodia-South Korea Trade Surges 36.8% to Nearly $600 Million in First Half of 2026

PHNOM PENH, July 20, 2026 (KPT) – Bilateral trade between Cambodia and South Korea jumped 36.8 percent year-on-year to nearly $600 million in the first half of 2026, official data showed Monday, underscoring deepening economic ties and rising confidence among South Korean investors in Cambodia’s market. The General Department of Customs and Excise said two-way trade reached $599 million between January and June. Cambodian exports rose 38.2 percent to $209 million, while imports from South Korea climbed 36 percent to $389 million. Lim Heng, vice president of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, said the surge reflected Cambodia’s expanding market access under preferential trade deals, including the Cambodia-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the EU’s Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme, and a free trade pact with the United Arab Emirates. He noted Cambodia’s exports to South Korea range from garments and industrial components to agricultural products, adding that the CKFTA, which took effect in late 2022, has reduced tariffs across a broad spectrum of goods. The government is encouraging more South Korean investment in sectors such as modern agriculture, food processing, automotive manufacturing, electronics and digital technology, aiming to further deepen cooperation with one of its key Asian partners. In 2025, bilateral trade exceeded $923 million, up 9.8 percent from the previous year. Cambodia exported nearly $327 million worth of goods, while imports totaled $596 million, an increase of 14.4 percent.