PHNOM PENH: Cambodia's international trade totaled more than US$43.5 billion in the January-November period of this year, a year-on-year increase of 9.7 percent, a Ministry of Commerce's report showed on Thursday.

Cambodia exported some US$21 billion worth of goods to foreign markets, up 4 percent compared to the same period last year, it added.

The U.S., Vietnam, China, and Japan are the Kingdom's biggest markets with exports of US$8.1 billion, US$2.6 billion, US$1.3 billion, and US$1 billion, respectively.

Ministry of Commerce remains committed to further efforts to boost trade, said H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce.

“The Ministry of Commerce continues to deepen the reform and improve the quality of the ministry's public service delivery through automation system, reduction of both costs and time, maintenance of price stability and promotion of domestic trade, market development, and private sector development,” she said at the ministry's recapitulative meeting to review its work achievements in 2023 and set forth new goals in 2024, held here on Dec. 21.

Cambodia's main products exported are garments, machinery and electrical equipment, footwear products, leather goods, grain, furniture, rubber, fruits, vegetables, pearls, toys, and textiles.

The garment, footwear, and travel goods industry is the largest foreign exchange earner for Cambodia. The sector consists of roughly 1,300 factories and branches, employing approximately 840,000 workers, mostly female.

Cambodia's total imports came down by six percent to about US$22 billion, read the report.

The country primarily imports raw and construction materials, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, electronic equipment, fertilisers and pesticides.