Cambodia’s Exports Surge 20% Amid Global Uncertainty

KT Sokhuntea

Cambodia’s garment, footwear, and travel goods exports soared to $3.5 billion in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 20% year-on-year rise, government officials announced Wednesday.

The jump in exports comes despite global economic turbulence, reflecting what officials call a “resilient and stable” domestic economy. Sun Mesa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, credited the growth to Cambodia’s “sound economic performance amidst global complexities and uncertainties in political and economic aspects.”

The garments and footwear industry remains Cambodia’s economic powerhouse—its largest source of foreign exchange. With over 1,500 active factories and branches, the sector employs nearly a million workers, the vast majority of whom are women.

Analysts note that the country has benefited from sustained demand in Western markets and competitive production costs, as well as preferential trade access to regions like the EU and the US under various trade schemes.

While questions remain about the long-term resilience of the sector amid geopolitical tensions and shifting global supply chains, the first-quarter data points to a strong start for 2025 and renewed confidence in Cambodia’s export-led growth.

The government has also signalled plans to further invest in vocational training and factory conditions to boost both productivity and worker welfare in a sector central to the nation’s economic identity.

-2025-05-08