PHNOM PENH: Cambodia’s trade volume rose by an incredible 28 percent to $37.3 billion in the first ten months of this year, indicates data released by the Ministry of Commerce. When put into the context, of it being a year blighted by Covid-19, that figure becomes reflects of a robust and healthy economy.

The import numbers are indicator of an expanding economy, Cambodia has money to spend. It shows an economy that is still expanding year on year, even in very repressed global market, due to the pandemic, but the news is not all good. Exports were US$14.2, down by 2 percent, said the ministry’s report. The Kingdom also imported US$23 billion worth of products, a year-on-year increase of 58 percent.

Cambodia's major markets were the United States, Japan, China, Korea, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, India, New Zealand, and ASEAN. The main exported items included garments, footwear, travel goods, bicycles, rice, machinery and electrical equipment, and vegetables and fruits.

The country imported mostly raw materials, construction materials, automobiles, pharmaceutical products, electronics and electrical equipment, fertilizers and pesticides, products that at current cannot be made within the Kingdom currently, these products will certainly become a focus of attention by the finance ministry to keep both imports & exports in balance to readdress this years 2% fall in exports.