Cambodia imports from Thailand drop amid consumer boycott

Cambodian imports of Thai goods have seen a significant decline following border clashes that began in July 2025. Data from the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) indicates that for the first eight months of 2026, bilateral trade stood at $1.81 billion, a 32% decrease compared to the previous year. Specifically, imports from Thailand fell by 37.5%, dropping to $1.33 billion.

A growing consumer boycott movement has led to Thai brands such as Mama noodles, Dutch Mill milk, and Oishi tea disappearing from many Cambodian retail shelves. This shift has created a market opening for local Cambodian businesses. For instance, Kirisu Farm, a milk producer, reported that while they previously had to stockpile 25% of their output, they are now able to move all products directly to the market.

While the conflict has negatively impacted border economies and tourism, local SMEs are attempting to capitalize on rising nationalism by launching thousands of new products to capture the retail market share previously dominated by Thai companies like CP All.