Cambodia's international trade during the first quarter of 2023 has seen a decline of 14.5% to $11.25 billion, according to a report by the General Department of Customs and Excise.

The report highlighted that the country's total export, valued at $5.39 billion, fell 5.7% YoY, while the total import, registered at $5.86 billion, dropped 21.3%.

Cambodia's garment, footwear, and travel goods industry, the largest foreign exchange earner for the country, recorded a 22% YoY decrease in exports, falling from $3.12 billion in Q1 2022 to $2.42 billion this year.

This sector employs about 750,000 workers, mostly female, across 1,100 factories and branches. The government expressed its concern about the global economic situation, particularly in the US and Europe, adding that declining income in those countries is affecting purchase orders, causing a ripple effect on the global economy through inflation.