Economic & Trade in Cambodia
Economic and Social Indicators – Cambodia and Sri Lanka
| Cambodia | Sri Lanka | |
| Official Name | Kingdom of Cambodia | Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka |
| Area | 181,035sqkm | 65,610 Sq. Km |
| Capital | Phnom Penh | Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte |
| Population | 16,713,015 (2022 est.) | 23,187,516 (2022 est.) |
| Life Expectancy | 71.03 years | 78 years |
| Literacy | 80.5% | 92.3% |
| Ethnic Groups | Khmer 95.4%, Cham 2.4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 0.7% (2019-20 est.) | Sinhalese 74.9%, Sri Lankan Tamil 11.2%, Sri Lankan Moors 9.2%, Indian Tamil 4.2%, Other 0.5% (2012) |
| Religions | Buddhist (official) 97.1%, Muslim 2%, Christian 0.3%, other 0.5% (2019 est.) | Buddhist (official) 70.2%, Hindu 12.6%, Muslim 9.7%, Roman Catholic 6.1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 0.05% (2012 est.) |
| GDP | $72.238 billion (2021 est.) | $296.595 billion (2021 est.) |
| GDP – Rate | 3.03% (2021 est.) | 3.33% (2021 est.) |
| GDP – Per Capita | $1,625.2 (World bank.) | 4,013.7 (World bank.) |
| GDP Composition by Sector | Agriculture: 25.3% (2017 est.) | Agriculture: 7.8% (2017 est.) |
| Industry: 32.8% (2017 est.) | Industry: 30.5% (2017 est.) | |
| Services: 41.9% (2017 est.) | Services: 61.7% (2017 est.) | |
| Labor Force | 9.345 million (2021 est.) | 8.268 million (2021 est.) |
| Labor Force – By Occupation | agriculture: 48.7% | Agriculture: 27% |
| industry: 19.9% | Industry: 26% | |
| Services: 31.5% (2013 est.) | Services: 47% (31 December 2016) | |
| Unemployment Rate | 0.61% (2021 est.) | 5.39% (2021 est.) |
| Inflation Rate | 2.92% (2021 est.) | 7.01% (2021 est.) |
| Agriculture Products | Cassava, Rice, Maize, Vegetables, Sugar Cane, Soybeans, Rubber, Oil Palm Fruit, Bananas, Pork | Rice, Coconuts, Sugar cane, Plantains, Milk, Tea, Cassava, Maize, Poultry, Coir |
| Industries | Tourism, Garments, Construction, Rice Milling, Fishing, Wood and Wood Products, Rubber, Cement, Gem Mining, Textiles | Processing of Rubber, Tea, Coconuts, Tobacco and Other Agricultural Commodities; Telecommunications, Insurance, Banking; Tourism, Shipping; Clothing, Textiles; Cement, Petroleum Refining, Information Technology Services, Construction |
| Export | $20.126 billion (2021 est.) | $13.083 billion (2020 est.) |
| Export Commodities | Clothing, Precious Metal Scraps, Trunks/Cases, Gold, Leather Footwear (2019) | Clothing and Apparel, Tea, Used Tires, Rubber Products, Precious Stones, Cinnamon (2019) |
| Export Partners | United States 21%, Singapore 8%, Thailand 8%, Germany 7%, Japan 6%, China 5%, Canada 5%, United Kingdom 5% (2019) | United States 24%, India 8%, United Kingdom 7%, Germany 7% (2019) |
| Imports | $32.83 billion (2021 est.) | $18.271 billion (2020 est.) |
| Import Commodities | Refined Petroleum, Clothing, Gold, Cars, Flavored Water (2019) | Refined Petroleum, Textiles, Gold, Cars, Broadcasting Equipment (2019) |
| Import Partners | China 27%, Thailand 25%, Vietnam 15%, Singapore 8% (2019) | India 24%, China 23%, Singapore 7%, United Arab Emirates 6%, Malaysia 5% (2019) |
Source: The World Fact book/Central Bank of Sri Lanka/Sri Lanka Customs
1. Sri Lanka’s Exports, Imports, Total Trade & Balance of Trade with Cambodia
The total trade turnover between Sri Lanka and Cambodia, as shown in table 1 below, has been rather erratic during last five years.
Table 1: Trade with Cambodia
Values in US$ Mn.
| Year | Exports | Imports | Total Trade Turnover | Trade Balance | Import Coverage (%) | |||
| Value | Growth | Value | Growth | Value | Growth | |||
| (%) | (%) | (%) | ||||||
| 2018 | 4.68 | – | 3.18 | – | 7.86 | – | 1.49 | 146.88 |
| 2019 | 5.00 | 6.97 | 1.48 | (53.41) | 6.49 | (17.48) | 3.52 | 337.21 |
| 2020 | 5.92 | 18.36 | 2.03 | 36.60 | 7.95 | 22.53 | 3.90 | 292.18 |
| 2021 | 3.14 | (46.96) | 2.84 | 40.31 | 5.99 | (24.70) | 0.30 | 110.46 |
| 2022 | 3.51 | 11.70 | 2.70 | (5.04) | 6.21 | 3.75 | 0.81 | 129.93 |
Source: Sri Lanka Customs
The value of Sri Lanka’s exports to Cambodia decreased to US$ 3.14 Mn. in 2021 from USD 4.68 Mn. in 2018. The trade balance was in favor of Sri Lanka during 2018-2022. Sri Lanka’s exports to Cambodia increased to by US$ 0.37 Mn in 2022 compared to 2021. On the imports front, Sri Lanka’s imports from Cambodia have fluctuated during last five years. However, from 2019 to 2021 period, Sri Lanka’s imports from Cambodia showed a positive trend.
Sri Lanka’s Exports to Cambodia
- Cambodia was the 103th export market for Sri Lanka with a share of 0.03% in 2022.
- In the light of table 02 below, wheat or meslin flour has become the dominant export item accounting for 29% of the value of Sri Lanka‘s total exports to Cambodia in 2022.
Table 2: Sri Lanka’s Major Export Items to Cambodia (2018 – 2022)
Values in US$ Mn.
| HS Code | Description | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Share in 2022 (%) | Change in 2022 over 2021 |
| 110100 | Wheat or meslin flour. | 1.55 | 1.87 | 1.25 | 0.94 | 1.01 | 29 | 7 |
| 60 | Knitted or crocheted fabrics | 0.75 | 0.52 | 1.65 | 0.69 | 0.63 | 18 | (9) |
| 49 | Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts | 0.27 | 0.38 | 0.61 | 0.56 | 0.49 | 14 | (12) |
| 6162 | Apparel | 0.06 | 0.23 | 0.16 | 0.05 | 0.48 | 14 | 860 |
| 58 | Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace; tapestries; trimmings; embroidery | 0.57 | 0.91 | 0.54 | 0.51 | 0.17 | 5 | (67) |
| 39 | Plastics and articles thereof (Except Hs 392321) | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.06 | 0.02 | 0.11 | 3 | 411 |
| Other | 1.44 | 1.08 | 1.65 | 0.37 | 0.62 | 18 | 66 | |
| Total | 4.68 | 5.00 | 5.92 | 3.14 | 3.51 | 100 | 12 | |
Source: Sri Lanka Customs
Sri Lanka’s Imports from Cambodia
- Cambodia was the 70rd Import partner of Sri Lanka with a share of 0.02% in 2022.
- As shown in table 3, Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes has become the main import item from Cambodia which has accounted 36% from the total imports from Cambodia in 2022.
Table 3: Sri Lanka’s Major Import Items from Cambodia (2018 –2022)
Values in US$ Mn.
| HS Code | Description | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Share in 2022 (%) | Change in 2022 over 2021 |
| 24 | Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes | – | – | 0.87 | – | 0.97 | 36 | – |
| 6162 | Apparel | 1.17 | 0.21 | 0.16 | 0.65 | 0.64 | 24 | (2) |
| 60 | Knitted or crocheted fabrics | 0.17 | 0.39 | 0.13 | 0.67 | 0.40 | 15 | (39) |
| 52 | Cotton | – | 0.00 | – | 0.00 | 0.12 | 4 | 2,051,618 |
| 49 | Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.12 | 0.07 | 3 | (37) |
| Other | 1.84 | 0.88 | 0.86 | 1.41 | 0.49 | 18 | 65 | |
| Total | 3.18 | 1.48 | 2.03 | 2.84 | 2.70 | 100 | (5) | |
Source: Sri Lanka Customs
2. Scope for further expansion of Sri Lanka’s Exports to Cambodia
In terms of the growing demand pattern in Cambodia and considering the sustainable supply capacities of Sri Lanka, following products can be further expanded in Cambodia.
- Animal feed
- Articles of vulcanized rubber
- Ignition wiring sets and other wiring sets for vehicles, aircraft or ships
- Medium oils and preparations, of petroleum or bituminous minerals
- Food preparations
- Sacks and bags, incl. cones, of polymers of ethylene
- Non-alcoholic beverages
- Boards, cabinets and similar combinations of apparatus
- Articles of Jewelry and parts thereof
- Uppers and parts thereof (excluding stiffeners and general parts made of asbestos)
- Bicycles and other cycles
- Non-industrial diamonds unworked or simply sawn
- Paper or paperboard labels of all kinds, printed
- Electric conductors
Additional Bilateral Trade Statistics – Cambodia
| Year | Rank | Value US. Mn. | % of total export to the world | growth (Multiples) |
| 1977 | – | – | – | – |
| 2022 | 103 | 3.51 | 0.03 | – |
Source: Sri Lanka Customs
Additional Bilateral Trade Statistics
Values in US$ Mn.
| Year | Export | Share of total export to the world (%) | Import | Total Trade | Balance of Trade |
| 1995 | 0.03 | 0.001 | 0.05 | 0.08 | -0.02 |
| 2000 | 0.10 | 0.002 | 0.83 | 0.93 | -0.73 |
| 2001 | 0.05 | 0.001 | 0.31 | 0.36 | -0.26 |
| 2002 | 0.22 | 0.005 | 0.02 | 0.24 | 0.20 |
| 2003 | 0.12 | 0.002 | 0.16 | 0.28 | -0.05 |
| 2004 | 0.21 | 0.004 | 0.04 | 0.25 | 0.16 |
| 2005 | 0.31 | 0.005 | 0.21 | 0.52 | 0.11 |
| 2006 | 1.08 | 0.016 | 0.19 | 1.27 | 0.90 |
| 2007 | 1.40 | 0.018 | 0.22 | 1.63 | 1.18 |
| 2008 | 1.65 | 0.020 | 0.18 | 1.83 | 1.47 |
| 2009 | 1.32 | 0.019 | 0.44 | 1.76 | 0.88 |
| 2010 | 5.23 | 0.063 | 0.51 | 5.73 | 4.72 |
| 2011 | 2.33 | 0.023 | 1.16 | 3.49 | 1.17 |
| 2012 | 4.16 | 0.044 | 0.66 | 4.82 | 3.50 |
| 2013 | 5.34 | 0.053 | 0.78 | 6.12 | 4.56 |
| 2014 | 8.05 | 0.071 | 0.28 | 8.34 | 7.77 |
| 2015 | 7.05 | 0.069 | 1.02 | 8.07 | 6.03 |
| 2016 | 5.50 | 0.054 | 6.64 | 12.14 | -1.14 |
| 2017 | 4.81 | 0.042 | 0.90 | 5.71 | 3.91 |
| 2018 | 4.68 | 0.040 | 3.18 | 7.86 | 1.50 |
| 2019 | 5.00 | 0.043 | 1.48 | 6.48 | 3.52 |
| 2020 | 5.92 | 0.060 | 2.03 | 7.95 | 3.89 |
| 2021 | 3.14 | 0.030 | 2.84 | 5.98 | 0.30 |
| 2022 | 3.51 | 0.030 | 2.70 | 6.21 | 0.81 |
Source: Sri Lanka Customs / Trade Map
