The value of Cambodia’s international trade increased by about 9 percent in the first six months of this year compared with the same period last year, according to the latest data from the Commerce Ministry.
The overall value of Cambodia’s trade with other countries rose to $9.75 billion in the first six months, compared to $8.95 billion last year.
Over the same period, exports rose by 9.5 percent to $4.13 billion this year, up from $3.77 billion last year.
Ho Sivyong, director of the ministry’s import-export department, said that the rise was largely driven by the garment sector.
“Big buyers in the United States keep making larger orders for garments and textiles from Cambodia so I think the sector has the potential to continue this trend,” he said.
Despite the increase in exports, the first-half data still showed an overall trade deficit of $1.49 billion, up 5.6 percent from the deficit of $1.41 recorded in the same period last year.
Stephen Higgins, managing partner of consultancy firm Mekong Strategic Partners, said exports were still largely confined to garments and rice.
“The good news is that exports have grown more quickly than imports,” he said in an email.
