Cambodia

Cambodia has one deep sea port, and that concentrates the logistics in a way that is actually helpful to plan around. Sihanoukville handles container traffic, Phnom Penh's river port takes smaller consignments barged up the Mekong from Vietnam, and overland routes from Thailand through Poipet and from Vietnam through Bavet carry a substantial share of trade. EMM quotes the realistic route for the destination rather than defaulting to the port, because for a factory in the Phnom Penh special economic zones the Vietnam land route is often quicker.

Garments, footwear, travel goods, agriculture

Garment, footwear and travel goods manufacture is overwhelmingly the largest industry and employer, concentrated in the special economic zones around Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and Bavet. It buys industrial sewing in volume, cutting and spreading, moulding and sole-attaching for footwear, pressing, embroidery, printing, laundry and finishing, plus the boilers, compressors and effluent treatment that brand audits require. Rice is the agricultural anchor and milling capacity has been built out to export rather than ship paddy to Vietnam for processing, so hullers, whiteners, polishers, colour sorters, dryers and packing lines are frequent enquiries. Cassava processing into starch and chips, rubber in Kampong Cham and Tboung Khmum, cashew, pepper from Kampot and maize all have their own processing demand. Construction in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville buys batching plants, block machines and concrete equipment. Fisheries on the Tonle Sap and the coast take ice and cold storage.

Practical notes

Investment projects approved by the Council for the Development of Cambodia can carry duty exemption on capital equipment, which materially changes landed cost, so we ask whether a buyer holds a QIP certificate before quoting. The network runs at 230 V, rising to 400 V on three phase, 50 Hz, with electricity historically expensive and supply firmer than it was. The climate is tropical monsoon with seasonal flooding along the Mekong and Tonle Sap.

Tell us if you have a QIP - the duty exemption is usually worth more than any discount we could give.