Cambodian garment exports up 7% in 2008

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's garment exports rose by 7 percent in 2008 over 2007 to 3.15 billion U.S. dollars, with the United States remaining as the largest market, worth 1.95 billion U.S. dollars, national media on Wednesday quoted an official report as saying.

About 213 million U.S. dollars of increase in garment exports was encouraging in the face of the global financial crisis, Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh told English-language daily newspaper the Phnom Penh Post.

"Our garment industry is still in a good position because we are able to maintain big purchase orders in the international market, despite the fact that the world has been facing a global financial crisis since late 2008," he added.

Garments were still the kingdom's largest export item, accounting for around three-quarters of the export earnings, according to the 2008 annual report of the Commerce Ministry.

U.S., EU, Canada major importers of Cambodian garments

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S., EU and Canada were the top three importers of Cambodian garments in 2008, national media on Wednesday.

U.S. remained as the largest market of Cambodian garment products, worth 1.95 billion U.S. dollars in 2008, rising 1.999 billion U.S. dollars in 2007, English-language daily newspaper the Phnom Penh Post quoted the 2008 annual report of the Cambodian Commerce Ministry as saying.

EU stayed at the second place, worth 631 million U.S. dollars in 2008 over 599 million U.S. dollars in 2007, and Canada the third, worth 202 million U.S. dollars in 2008 over 154.5 million U.S. dollars in 2007, according to the report.

The total garment exports in 2008 stood at 3.15 billion U.S. dollars, a 7 percent rise over that of 2007, 2.937 billion U.S. dollars, it said.

Garments were still the kingdom's largest export item in 2008, accounting for around three-quarters of the export earnings, according to the ministry report.