KhmerTimes-Mar 26, 2026
Despite official reports from Thailand indicating zero border trade with Cambodia in February, newly released Cambodian data suggest that bilateral commerce between the two neighbors has continued at significant levels through alternative logistics channels. According to a report published on Tuesday by The Nation Thailand, overall border and transit trade in February 2026 stood at 139.4 billion baht, marking a 9.7 percent decline compared to the same period last year. The data, cited by Arada Fuangtong, Director-General of Thailand’s Department of Foreign Trade, showed that border trade with four neighboring countries dropped sharply by 28.2 percent. Notably, Thailand-Cambodia land border trade was recorded as having fallen to zero. In contrast, figures released by the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) of Cambodia painted a different picture of ongoing economic activity. It reported that total bilateral trade between the two countries reached $221.7 million in February alone. This included $52.2 million in Cambodian exports and $167.5 million in imports from Thailand, resulting in a trade deficit of $113.3 million for the Kingdom. For the first two months of 2026, GDCE data showed total trade volume of approximately $431 million. Of this, Cambodian exports accounted for $112.5 million, while imports stood at $318.5 million. However, the figures still represent a substantial decline of 42.3 percent compared to the same period in 2025, reflecting the broader impact of border tensions and disruptions to traditional overland supply routes. Read more at:
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501868415/trade-persists-between-cambodia-thailand-despite-border-halt/
