Wood in the rough market in Cambodia

Earlier Report Observations

The Cambodian rough wood market volume contracted steadily from 5 013 thousand tons in 2018 to 4 630 thousand tons in 2023, driven by a consistent annual decline in domestic production. The COVID-19 pandemic, which began affecting global supply chains in 2020, introduced significant disruptions that further reduced output and contributed to the market's downward trajectory throughout the early 2020s.

In 2022, new legislation including the Public-Private Partnership Law and the Investment Law was enacted to strengthen the legal framework for investments and encourage the entry of new players into the forestry sector. Despite these institutional efforts to stimulate the industry, total market volume continued to decline, as the lingering effects of pandemic-related supply constraints outweighed the potential positive impact of the new policies during the observed period.

Production wood in the rough in Cambodia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of wood in the rough, 2017-2020

World map of production of wood in the rough, 2017-2020

Cambodia's production of wood in the rough has declined for three consecutive years. In 2020, the country produced 4 835 thousand tons, marking a slight decrease of 1.6% compared to 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 4.9%, which translates to an average annual decline of 1.7%.

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

Exports wood in the rough from Cambodia

Exports in kind, t

The data shows irregular changes, pointing to a volatile market environment. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 75 tons, then peaked in 2018, with a 6.2-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Cambodia exported 93 tons of wood in the rough, representing a 23.5% increase from 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2019, dropping by 83.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Vietnam and Thailand together accounted for 90.3% of Cambodia's total exports of wood in the rough by volume, while the remaining share was distributed among other destinations with smaller individual contributions.

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, K $ US

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Exports hit their lowest point in 2019 at 4 thousand US dollars, then peaked in 2018, with an 18-fold gap between these years. In 2020, Cambodia's cross-border shipments of wood in the rough totaled 17 thousand US dollars, marking a steep increase of 296.4% compared to the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2019, falling by 94.4%.

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

Over the period from 2017 to 2020, Vietnam was the dominant market for Cambodia's exports of wood in the rough in value terms, capturing 73.5% of total flows, while other countries together accounted for the remaining share.

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 in the rough to Cambodia

Imports in kind, t

Cambodia's imports of wood in the rough have increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country imported a total of wood in the rough, constituting a 116.6% increase compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 522.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of 84.0%.

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

In the period from 2017 to 2020, China (with 39.3% of imports in kind), the United States (21.1%), and Uruguay (19.7%) were the main sources in the geographical breakdown of Cambodia's imports of wood in the rough by volume, together accounting for 80.0% 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, K $ US

There were noticeable fluctuations in market performance during this period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2017, then peaked in 2020, with a 5.7-fold variation between these years. In 2020, Cambodia imported approximately 19 985 thousand US dollars of wood in the rough, equivalent to a sharp rise of 168.8% over the past year. The largest decline occurred in 2019, dropping by 35.4%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2018, rising by 227.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, China (with 52.9% of imports in value terms), the United States (13.7%), and Uruguay (12.9%) consistently held leading positions in the country structure of Cambodia's imports of wood in the rough by value, jointly accounting for 79.5% of total flows.

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

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