Shipments of goods from Japan to Cambodia jumped by more than one third in the first four months of the year as stimulus spending and higher demand increased calls for foreign goods. Citing the Global Trade Atlas, the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) said exports from January to April rose to $204.046 million, 34.8 percent higher than the same period a year earlier. JETRO noted Cambodia’s exports to Japan were up 1.4 percent to $639.475 million for the same period. The Cambodia Chamber of Commerce reported slightly higher export figures last week, saying the Kingdom’s shipments to Japan were up 2.4 percent in the first four months of the year to $643 million.
Exports to Japan include textiles, footwear, furniture, office equipment, leather goods, cosmetics, paper, and steel. Japanese exports to the Kingdom include machinery, automobiles, electronics, furniture, fabrics and plastics. “The positive growth of exports to Japan is a good sign for Cambodia’s trade,” said Ngou Meng Tech, director-general of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, who noted that the Kingdom benefits from free trade agreements with China and South Korea and is hoping to begin talks to strike a similar deal with Japan. Bilateral trade rose by around 8 percent according to figures released by both groups, raising optimism of a rise in bilateral trade after last year’s slump. Trade between the two countries fell 8 percent last year compared with 2019 to $2.099 billion. Exports fell 6.7 percent, according to JETRO. Imports were down 13.8 percent.