Cambodia’s exports of garments and footwear rose 7.2 per cent in 2016. The US market accounts for a quarter of the Cambodia’s exports however this share dropped from 29 per cent in 2015 to 25 per cent in 2016. Now there is an emerging sign of strong growth of the garments exports to markets outside the EU and US. Exports to other markets rose 35 per cent in 2016, up from 28 per cent in 2015, and from just 11 per cent ten years ago.

Japan and Canada have grown as important export destinations for Cambodia. Exports to Japan accounted for nine per cent of total garment and footwear exports in 2016, up from 7.7 per cent in 2015 and just 2.7 per cent in 2010, while exports to Canada were nearly eight per cent of market share, up from 7.5 per cent in 2015 and just 0.5 per cent in 2010.

At the same time, exports to China have also been well. The Chinese market accounted for 2.3 per cent of Cambodia’s garment and footwear exports in 2016, up from 1.8 per cent in 2015. Cambodia has free trade agreements with various countries, particularly under the Asean frameworks.