Building a brighter tomorrow in Cambodia

Cambodia is a coastal nation in Southeast Asia. It is a rising middle economy, ranking 107 in GDP terms. Cambodia's geography constitutes forests, great rivers, plains, mountains, and the Gulf of Thailand coastline. The emerald green terrain hosts few developed cities among vast rural areas. Most of the population is engaged in agriculture, fishing, and animal herding. The people are finally adjusting to a peaceful life after decades of instability. The Khmer Rouge, a communist guerrilla movement that ruled the nation between 1975-79, had left Cambodia distraught.

 

During the four year period, at least 1.5 million Cambodians were killed or had died of natural causes precipitated by the regime. National infrastructure was devastated as well as the education system, while the strength of domesticated animal species dwindled, and all else went wrong. Many people had to flee the country and seek refuge elsewhere. Having regained political autonomy only in the 1990s, Cambodia’s dark past is still far from forgotten. While under French rule, Cambodia was invaded and occupied by the Japanese during World War II. This was followed by a sporadic periods of postwar independence and civil conflict leading up to the Khmer Rouge.

 

Today, tourists visit Cambodia to pay their respects at the Angkor Wat temple complex, a highly celebrated archeological site. The temple is a remnant of The Khmer civilization that met its end in the 16th century. Influences from Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, and French cultures have helped shape the country as it now is.

Cambodia Export Overview

Agriculture is still the most important sector of this rural economy. Yet the majority of the indigenous soil is sandy and lacks nutrition. Rubber, cotton, and rice have been the biggest commercial crops for decades. Rice being the most commonly grown. In the absence of infrastructure for proper irrigation, rice is sown primarily during the monsoon. Almost all farmers are also engaged in fishing, animal husbandry, and fruit cultivation. Most of this is used to meet local demand and personal needs. Other important crops include coconut, cassava, sugarcane, corn, soybean, and tropical fruits. Three-fourths of the land used was forested in the 1970s. Today about half of that has been cleared making deforestation a huge issue.

In the 1990s, the government made intensive efforts to invite foreign investment into Cambodia. As a result, the hospitality, tourism and textile industries thrive in Cambodia. Manufacturing of sweaters, suitcases, and clothes has become a popular line of work. Gain access to textile export data from Cambodia at The Trade Vision. We have extensive resources on Cambodia's real-time trade developments.

Cambodia: Top Export Commodities

1. Gold ($5.25 billion)
2. Knit Sweaters ($2.15 billion)
3. Knit Women's Suits ($1.55 billion)
4. Trunks and Cases ($1.46 billion)
5. Non-Knit Women's Suits ($1.44 billion)

 

Cambodia: Top Export Countries

1. United States ($7.25 billion)
2. Singapore ($5.07 billion)
3. Germany ($1.84 billion)
4. Japan ($1.63 billion)
5. China ($1.46 billion)

Cambodia Import Overview

The country has had to depend on its neighbors and developed nations for many things over the last fifty years. In Cambodia, there is no scope for commercial mining. The country also faces shortages of energy materials, including oil and gas. Earlier, in the 1990s, there was a boost in import of consumable goods like soft drinks, paper, and cigarettes. Electronics and cars were also vastly imported during this period.

 

Except for a couple major cities, transport in most rural areas is done by bicycles. Hence, bi-wheel components are vastly imported even today. Fabrics are also imported as raw materials for the clothing industry. Explore Cambodia import data to make better trading decisions for your business.

Cambodia: Top Import Commodities

1. Light Rubberized Knitted Fabric ($2.08 billion)
2. Refined Petroleum ($1.82 billion)
3. Gold ($1.43 billion)
4. Bi-Wheel Vehicle Parts ($517 million)
5. Cars ($450 million)

Cambodia: Top Import Countries

1. China ($8.07 billion)
2. Thailand ($5.74 billion)
3. Vietnam ($4.39 billion)
4. Singapore ($1.59 billion)
5. Chinese Taipei ($750 million)

Cambodia: What’s In Store?

Cambodia continues to heal from the bloodshed unleashed by the Khmer Rouge. Underdeveloped medical services and outdated education systems also hamper the Cambodian people. Due to porous borders, goods are often smuggled freely through Cambodia's frontiers. Wildlife is at risk and deforestation is rampant. The people struggle to make ends meet. The government therefore faces complex challenges that require steadfast action.

 

As most of the population is engaged in agriculture and lives in rural areas, city life is very different. Looking at global headlines, Cambodia’s name most often comes up in organized crime-related news. Gambling rackets, human trafficking, scam companies, and political espionage are only a few examples. A 95% indigenous population has led to a strong sense of national identity. The people still struggle to adjust to their new global position and learn to find their place. Moving towards the future, the development of basic infrastructure and administrative systems will be the biggest determinants.

 

Currently, there is stagnation in the Cambodian textile sector due to a lack of orders. The strain on the world economy caused by the Russia-Ukraine War might be a contributing factor. Tourism is currently the fastest-growing industry in the country. Expand your business operations to Cambodia with assistance from The Trade Vision. We are an international trade research company and provide actionable analytics that steers clear of the noise.

 

Contact us now at mywishplan@thetradevision.com or call +1(307)7573116, to get started.

Download The Trade Vision Mobile App to access data on the go.