PHNOM PENH, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's trade volume with Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) member states surged 24 percent year-on-year to 24.4 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2026, according to a Ministry of Commerce report released Monday.
During the January-June period, the kingdom's exports to RCEP members grew 11.8 percent to 5.63 billion dollars. Meanwhile, imports climbed 28 percent to hit 18.8 billion dollars, the report said.
The mega-free trade pact remains Cambodia's dominant market, accounting for 63.9 percent of its 38.2-billion-dollar total global trade volume in the first six months of the year, it added.
China, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, and Thailand emerged as Cambodia's top five trading partners within the bloc, according to the report.
Penn Sovicheat, a secretary of state and spokesperson for Cambodia's Ministry of Commerce, said that the world's largest free trade agreement continues to drive Cambodia's economic expansion.
"The RCEP serves as a primary catalyst for Cambodia's long-term export expansion and a powerful incentive for foreign direct investment," he told Xinhua.
Entered into force in 2022, RCEP comprises 15 Asia-Pacific nations, uniting 10 ASEAN member states with China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. ■
