PHNOM PENH, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's exports reached 14 billion U.S. dollars during the first five months of 2026, marking a 19 percent year-on-year increase, according to a General Department of Customs and Excise report released on Wednesday.

The Southeast Asian country's top five export destinations are the United States, Vietnam, China, Japan, and Canada, the report said.

Meanwhile, the country's imports rose 18.9 percent year-on-year to 16 billion dollars during the January-May period this year, the report added.

The World Bank said in its Cambodia Economic Update on Tuesday that Cambodia's goods exports, excluding gold, remained robust, with double-digit growth.

"Cambodia's external sector is resilient in goods exports, yet it faces vulnerabilities from subdued tourism, rising import costs, and persistent market concentration," the World Bank's report said. "However, the contribution of garments, travel goods, and footwear (GTF) has slowed, reflecting the unwinding of earlier frontloading."

Ministry of Commerce's Secretary of State and Spokesperson Penn Sovicheat attributed the kingdom's export growth to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and Cambodia's bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) with China, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates, saying that these trade deals offer preferential tariffs on local products. ■