In the first 10 months of 2024, spanning Jan-Oct 24, Cambodia’s garments, textiles and footwear exports rose by double digits, as per a report by the General Department of Customs and Excise. Cambodia’s textile exports increased by 14.5 per cent Y-o-Y to $406 million during the Jan-Oct’24 period while garments exports rose by 23.6 per cent to $8 billion.

Additionally, Cambodia’s footwear exports also increased by 22 per cent to $1.33 billion to the international market, up 20.6 per cent, the report added.

Hoe Ee Khor, Chief Economist, Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), says, the garments, footwear and textile sector remains one of the major drivers for Cambodia's economic growth. Growth in this sector is projected to rebound in 2024, driven by the rising demand for consumer goods in major advanced markets, he adds.

The garment, textile and footwear industry is also the largest foreign exchange earner for Cambodia with about 1,538 factories, employing approximately 913,000 workers, mostly female, according to the latest report by the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training.