PHNOM PENH: Cambodia exported US$9.9 billion worth of garment, footwear and travel products to international markets in the first 11 months of 2023, down 15 per cent from nearly US$11.7 billion in the same period last year, said a Ministry of Commerce's report released on Tuesday (Dec 26).
Apparel and textiles accounted for $7.22 billion during the January-November period this year, marking a decline of 14.8 per cent from 8.48 billion dollars in the same period last year, the report said.
Footwear represented $1.21 billion, down 23 per cent from $1.57 billion, while travel goods absorbed $1.47 billion, also down 9.8 per cent from $1.63 billio, the report added.
Ministry of Commerce's Secretary of State and Spokesman Penn Sovicheat said key buyers of these products are the European Union, the United States, Canada and Britain, among others.
"Global economic slowdown, particularly in the European Union, has led to a dip in our exports of garment, footwear and travel products," he told Xinhua.
Garment, footwear and travel goods industry is the biggest foreign exchange earner for the South-East Asian country. The sector consists of roughly 1,300 factories and branches, employing approximately 840,000 workers, mostly female, according to the Ministry of Labour. - Xinhua
