Cambodia’s apparel exports decreased by 23.28 percent to $2,794.073 mn in the first five months of 2023, accounting for 30.76 percent of its total foreign income of $9,183.473 mn during the period, according to General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) under Ministry of economy and finance. This represents a significant drop from last year when the country’s apparel exports increased by 12.69 percent to $9.035 bn.
During the period under review, Cambodia’s exports of apparel and clothing accessories (knitted) (Chapter 61) were $1,855.508 mn, 26.1 percent lower than the exports worth $2,511.164 mn during the corresponding period of 2022. The country’s exports of apparel and clothing accessories (not knitted) (Chapter 62) dropped by 17 percent to $938.565 mn. In January-May 2022, the country exported apparel worth $1,130.954 mn in this category. The decline in shipments reflects sluggish demand in the global market.
In May 2023, Cambodia’s apparel exports declined by 16.28 percent to $644.517 mn compared to the shipment of $769.517 mn in the corresponding month of 2022. The shipment of apparel and clothing accessories (knitted) slipped 17.8 per cent to $274.406 mn from $135.560 mn during the same period last year. The exports of apparel and clothing accessories (not knitted) dropped by 12 per cent to $183.838 mn in May 2023.
As for imports, the country’s knitted or crocheted fabric (Chapter 60) imports during January-May 2023 were valued at $1,080.570 mn, 23.5 percent lower than the imports worth $1,412.060 mn in the same period of 2022. Manmade fibre (Chapter 55) imports declined by 17.8 percent to $459.018 mn, against $558.070 mn in the same period of 2022. Cotton and cotton yarn (Chapter 52) imports gained 2 percent to reach $228.127 mn during the period under review, compared to $223.632 mn in the same period of 2022.
