PHNOM PENH: A new direct shipping route connecting China’s Wuxi port with Sihanoukville port was put into operation on May 18, 2025, expected to significantly reduce operating time and costs. This was stated by His Excellency WANG Wenbin, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, on his Facebook page on the morning of May 20.
Ambassador Wang wrote that the direct connection is expected to reduce shipping time by 7 to 10 days and reduce the total port operating cost by about 20% to 30%.
The launch of the new shipping route is an important step in promoting trade and economic cooperation between the two countries by improving supply chain efficiency and reducing the financial burden for businesses.
The bilateral trade volume between Cambodia and China reached more than 5.6 billion US dollars in the first four months of 2025, an increase of 27 percent compared to the same period in 2024, which amounted to 4.48 billion US dollars. This is according to a report from the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia (GDCE).
The source noted that Cambodia’s exports to China fell slightly by 1.7 percent compared to the same period last year, totaling $478.63 million. In contrast, imports from China increased by 30.5 percent, amounting to $5.21 billion.
The report said that the data highlighted the growing economic relationship between the two countries, with China remaining one of Cambodia’s largest trading partners, a major source of consumer goods, raw materials and industrial equipment.