Wood charcoal market in Cambodia, 2026

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, Cambodia's wood charcoal market volume grew from 38 000 tons to 38 681 tons. This increase was supported by the emergence of sustainable charcoal initiatives, such as Khmer Green Charcoal (KGC), which began using coconut shells and waste char from wood-fired electricity generation to supplement traditional supply. International grants scaled up community forest projects, and digital platform development started to improve value chain efficiency.

Between 2021 and 2023, market volume expanded further to 39 645 tons. Sustainable production efforts intensified, with twelve more efficient kilns built or renovated and twelve forest communities adopting legal production quotas. KGC announced plans to construct a new plant and multiply its capacity five-fold within two to three years, reflecting direct investment in increasing supply.

In 2024, KGC continued its active expansion, and a digital platform for sustainable charcoal production and consumption was launched. Cambodia enacted the Code on Environment and Natural Resources, incorporating the Polluter Pays Principle and introducing new environmental governance frameworks for the sector.

Production wood charcoal in Cambodia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of wood charcoal, 2017-2020

World map of production of wood charcoal, 2017-2020

Cambodia's wood charcoal production has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 38 628 tonnes of wood charcoal, marking a slight increase of 0.8% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 2.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of 0.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Cambodia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports wood charcoal from Cambodia

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 29.7 tonnes, then peaked in 2017, showing a 3.6-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Cambodia exported 97.5 tonnes of wood charcoal, which was 3.6% higher than the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a drop of 72.1%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2019, at 216.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cambodia in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Japan and South Korea were the key partner countries for exports in kind, together accounting for 86.6% of total flows, with other partners making up the remainder.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Cambodia in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, $ US

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. The value of exports dropped to its lowest in 2018 at 17 242 US dollars, then peaked in 2017, with a threefold difference between these years. In 2020, wood charcoal shipments from Cambodia reached 42 160 US dollars, indicating an advance of 14.1% over the past year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018, at 66.7%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019, at 114.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cambodia in value, 2017-2020, $ US

Over the period from 2017 to 2020, Japan and South Korea remained the main buyers of wood charcoal from Cambodia, with a combined share of 83.3% of total exports in value terms, and the rest distributed among other countries.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Cambodia in value, 2017-2020

Imports wood charcoal to Cambodia

Imports in kind, t

Volatility characterized the market behavior during these years. Imports bottomed in 2018 at 0.0 tonnes, then peaked in 2020, showing a 31 038-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Cambodia imported a total of 150.8 tonnes of wood charcoal, which was 136.5% higher than in 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2018, at 100.0%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019, at 1 312 286.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cambodia in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, China was the key and almost sole market for imports in kind of wood charcoal to Cambodia, accounting for 90.1% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Cambodia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, $ US

Volatility characterized the market behavior during these years. Import values fell to their lowest in 2018 at 3 US dollars, then peaked in 2020, with a 33 364-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Cambodia's volume of wood charcoal imports totalled 86 746 US dollars, marking a sudden increase of 84.2% from 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2018, at 100.0%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019, at 1 811 000.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cambodia in value, 2017-2020, $ US

Over the period from 2017 to 2020, wood charcoal imports to Cambodia were largely oriented towards China, whose share in total imports in value terms reached 91.8%.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Cambodia in value, 2017-2020