Cambodia imported $20.9 billion worth of goods in the first six months of 2026, up 28% from the same period last year, as businesses continued to bring machinery, raw materials, vehicles and consumer goods into the country.
At the same time, customs payments are becoming increasingly digital. By the first quarter of 2026, electronic payments accounted for 92% of customs revenue collected, according to the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE).
The changes are making import procedures more convenient for businesses, but they do not remove one of the fundamental financial requirements of importing: companies must have sufficient funds available to settle customs duties and other charges before goods can be released.
Sam Soknoeun, chairman of the board of SAM Group, which operates a number of businesses, including a recent partnership with a Chinese company to manufacture tablets in Cambodia under the “KH Haitech” brand, said the customs process had improved following upgrades to the online goods declaration system.
“The process of importing goods into Cambodia has improved and become faster following improvements and upgrades by the Cambodian customs authorities to the online goods declaration system,” he said.
However, Soknoeun said some delays remained, particularly around the payment of import duties.
“I still see delays in the clearance of imported goods, although the GDCE is seeking ways to facilitate the private sector and enable goods to be imported and cleared more quickly,” he said.
For importers, the timing of customs payments can be an important consideration because businesses may already have paid suppliers, arranged transport and committed funds to inventory before the goods reach Cambodia.
Soknoeun said the requirement to settle customs duties before goods can be released could create a working-capital challenge for some businesses.
“Generally, when goods arrive at the port, companies or importers must first pay the customs duties in full before they can take the goods out. However, in some cases, they face a shortage of working capital. They can use financing from Wing Bank to clear their goods with the customs authorities,” he said.
The issue is becoming more relevant as Cambodia’s import trade expands. The country’s $20.9 billion in imports during the first half of 2026 represented a $4.6 billion increase compared with the same period in 2025.
The continued shift towards electronic customs payments has also changed how businesses manage the payment process.
Soknoeun said Wing Bank’s cooperation with the GDCE had helped facilitate tax payments and reduce some of the administrative burden for businesses.
“Through its cooperation with the GDCE, Wing Bank also enables customs duties to be paid digitally without service charges,” he said.
“This has been very helpful, meaning that customs payments are not subject to service charges for a specified period,” he added.
For businesses, however, the ability to make a payment digitally does not necessarily address the question of where the funds come from or how the payment fits into wider cash-flow requirements.
Chea Marat, Head of Business Development at Wing Bank, said businesses therefore needed to consider customs payments as part of their broader financial planning.
“Businesses need to look beyond the immediate cost of a shipment and consider how the timing of customs clearance affects their overall cash flow,” he said.
“Having the right financing options available can help businesses manage temporary funding requirements while keeping working capital available for other operational needs,” he added.
Wing Bank’s GDCE Trade Finance Solutions include financing options intended to support businesses with customs-related requirements.
For qualifying businesses, a Secured Business Line of Credit of up to $5 million is available at 7.5% per annum, while an Unsecured Business Line of Credit of up to $500,000 is available at 8.5% per annum. Financing tenors can extend to 12 months, with the first seven calendar days interest-free from each loan disbursement date.
Businesses can also access Secured or Unsecured Bank Guarantees of up to $5 million and $500,000 respectively for qualifying customs-related requirements.
Under the limited-time promotion, Bank Guarantee/Letter of Credit issuance fees are 0.6% per annum with no minimum fee, while handling fees for Import Bills for Collection (IBC) and Outward Bills for Collection (OBC) are waived.
For importers, such facilities can provide an alternative source of short-term funding when customs obligations fall due before inventory has generated revenue.
The wider customs system is also moving towards greater digitalisation and streamlined procedures, with electronic payments now accounting for the vast majority of customs revenue collection.
As Cambodia’s import activity continues to grow, the combination of faster customs procedures, digital payments and access to trade finance is becoming an increasingly important part of how businesses manage the movement of goods — and the money required to bring them into the country.
For more information about Wing Bank’s GDCE Trade Finance Solutions, visit any Wing Bank branch, call 023 999 989 or find Wing Bank online at https://bit.ly/4znwOI0.
