SVAY RIENG: While Cambodian bike exports saw a boom in 2022, from which the country earned $900 million US for the year, numbers have dropped by 30.5% this year, with Cambodia exporting $331 million US worth of bicycles to foreign markets in the first six months of 2023, projecting this year’s earning to be closer to those of 2021.

According to a Ministry of Commerce's report, Cambodia-made bicycles were shipped to the European Union, the United States of America, Britain, Canada, Japan and China, among others. Cambodia is one of the top five exporters of bicycles in the world following China, the Netherlands and Germany.

Heng Sokkung, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, noted the importance of diversifying Cambodia’s export industry to meet demand of non-garment products, which has been on the rise. Meanwhile, international demand for garments, footwear and travel goods have been on the decline. Cambodia recorded a 30% drop in garment exports in the first four months of the year, while Sri Lanka is anticipating a $1 billion US drop in apparel exports this year.

Bicycles have become a main Cambodian export along with clothes, footwear, travel goods, electronic components, and agricultural products.

 “The bicycle manufacturing industry made significant export to many countries, particularly to the EU, where our bicycles are popular,” said Heng Sokkung.

Cambodia’s five bicycle factories are all situated in Bavet city, at the border with Vietnam in the Svay Rieng Special Economic Zone (SEZ).