Cambodia-Thai shipments see $650M bump at Poipet border

GOODS movement between Cambodia and Thailand at the PoipetAranyaprathet border in Thai fiscal 2019 (October 2018-September 2019) reached 130.5 billion baht ($4.3 billion), up approximately 20 billion baht from the previous fiscal year, said Aranyaprathet Customs Officer On Unthaweesup on Wednesday.

Speaking to a reporter at the Ban Khlong Luek border checkpoint connecting Cambodia’s Poipet town with Thailand’s Aranyaprathet district, On said: “Thailand’s export value to Cambodia was at 87.53 billion baht, while import was at 16.02 billion baht.”

The top five products imported to the Cambodian market were non-carbonated beverages, cars, motorcycles, motorcycle parts and engines. The top five products exported from Cambodia were tapioca, motor components made of aluminium, aluminium scrap, copper scrap and dog food.

“The three factors for the increase in the value of goods crossing the border are the increasing purchasing power of Cambodian citizens, the use of the border for goods ultimately destined for Vietnam, and the increased convenience of cross-border shipments since the expansion of the Ban Kao Din border checkpoint [which borders Battambang province’s Sampov Loun district in Cambodia],” he said.

The market value will further increase after the opening of the Stung Bot-Ban Nong Ian border checkpoint in Poipet town’s Phsar Kandal district, he said. “Ban Nong Ian border checkpoint on Thailand’s side is ready to open, but we have to wait for construction of the connecting road and bridge on Cambodia’s side to finish to fully use the checkpoint.”