(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen reminded Thailand that “consumer is the boss,” underscoring that Cambodia purchases more than USD 5 billion worth of Thai goods each year.

Samdech Techo spoke on Monday (Nov. 17) during the 33rd National Congress of Buddhist Monks at the National Institute of Education.

The Senate president emphasised that while this amount may seem modest for Thailand as a whole, it is significant for Thai farmers and producers currently losing income amid growing tensions and Cambodian boycotts of Thai goods.

“Do not forget that consumer is the boss. Cambodia’s market and the volume of imports from Thailand are not small. Even if USD 5 billion annually may seem small for Thailand, it is not small for Thai people who are losing income. Their vegetables, fruits, and products destined for Cambodia cannot be sold and must be taken back, because Cambodian people are boycotting Thai goods," Samdech Techo underscored.

Samdech Techo added that both countries are losing from the slowdown in trade, though Cambodia’s losses are smaller due to its far lower export volume to Thailand. Thai officials often point out that Thailand immediately loses export revenue every time bilateral issues arise.

According to Samdech Techo, unofficial trade volume between the two countries exceeds USD 10 billion, while official figures from the General Department of Customs and Excise show that in 2024 trade reached just over USD 6 billion. Cambodia exported USD 1.1 billion to Thailand, while Thailand exported over USD 5.4 billion to Cambodia, giving Thailand a trade surplus of more than USD 4 billion.

Even so, Hun Sen urged Cambodians not to push boycott campaigns to extremes. Some products made in Cambodia, such as cement in Kampot province, are Cambodian-made even if Thai-owned. Shutting such factories would harm Cambodia more than Thailand.

According to the General Department of Customs and Excise, during the first 10 months of 2025, Cambodia–Thailand trade reached USD 3.2 billion, a drop of 9.3 per cent. Cambodia’s exports to Thailand were over USD 635 million, down 11.5 per cent, while Thailand’s exports to Cambodia were over USD 2.5 billion, down 8.8 per cent.
=FRESH NEWS