Broken down by sub-category, clothing exports dropped 10.7 percent to $6.164 billion, footwear declined 6.86 percent to $929.57 million with travel goods down 11 percent to $788.97 million. Other textiles, accounting for the balance of the category, showed an increase of 37 percent in YTD numbers to $332.80 million.
The US market was the leading destination for Cambodian products in the sector, with 37 percent of the total, (up 6.34 percent YTD to over $3 billion), followed by the European Union at 27 percent, (down 22.14 percent YTD to $2.181 billion), Japan at 9 percent, (down 10.48 percent YTD to $731.2 million), the United Kingdom at 7 percent, (down 18.53 percent YTD to $615.6 million), Asean destinations at 2 percent (up 26.82 percent YTD to $190.44 million) with the remaining 18 percent (up 11.54 percent YTD to $1.453 billion) divided among various nations.
American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia President Anthony Galliano noted earlier this week that garments will make a (further) comeback when Western economies revive. He added that the importance of the US as a trading partner will only substantially increase, as consumer demand for Cambodia made goods revives.
Kaing Monika, deputy secretary-general of the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia, said that the global market for Cambodia’s garment exports will always be more challenging and that internal reform for better competitiveness should be the focus.
He added that the apparel market changing from long-term mass production to small orders and fast delivery has made it difficult to see a full-year complete picture.
