Data from Cambodia's Ministry of Commerce shows that total national import-export turnover reached US$58.49 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 22.1% year on year. Exports stood at US$27.47 billion, an increase of 18%, while imports reached US$31.01 billion, up 26%, leaving a trade deficit of approximately US$3.54 billion. Cambodia's national news agency said garments, footwear, travel goods, machinery, electrical equipment and agricultural products were among the main exports.
Continued expansion in foreign trade has also drawn attention to logistics infrastructure. The Cambodian Investment Board has identified warehousing, cold-chain logistics and distribution centers as investment opportunities, while an industry white paper notes growing demand for Class A warehouses, cold-chain storage and urban delivery services.
Cold-chain capacity still has room for improvement. Citing a feasibility study, PIDG estimates Cambodia will need to add around 140,000 cubic meters of refrigerated capacity by 2030 to meet supply-chain demand. Cold-chain facilities at Phnom Penh Port are already operational and provide temperature-controlled storage and transshipment services for agricultural products, fisheries products and pharmaceuticals.
It should be noted that the General Department of Customs and Excise reported trade for the first nine months of about US$57 billion, slightly different from the Ministry of Commerce's US$58.49 billion figure. The figures use different departmental methodologies, and related reports should identify their sources. Looking ahead, whether trade growth translates into sustained investment in warehousing and cold-chain infrastructure will depend on logistics costs, facility locations and market demand.
