PHNOM PENH, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's garment, textile, footwear, and travel goods exports rose 7.4 percent during the first 10 months of 2026, according to a report from the General Department of Customs and Excise on Wednesday.
The Southeast Asian nation exported 14.4 billion U.S. dollars worth of goods from January to October this year, up from 13.4 billion dollars during the same period last year, the report said.
As the country's top foreign exchange earner, this vital manufacturing sector accounted for 48 percent of Cambodia's total export volume, the report added.
Thong Mengdavid, deputy director of the China-ASEAN Studies Center at the Cambodia University of Technology and Science, attributed this growth to regional integration.
He noted that Cambodia's membership in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), alongside bilateral free trade agreements with China, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates, has significantly expanded market access and boosted supply chain efficiency.
"The industry's growth remains highly resilient, fueled by strong external demand and a surge of new investments from China, South Korea, and Japan," Mengdavid told Xinhua.
The manufacturing sector currently spans more than 1,800 factories and branches nationwide, according to the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training. It remains a key economic pillar, employing roughly 1.1 million workers, the majority of whom are women. ■