Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – A recent report released by the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) shows that Cambodia's international foreign exchange reserves have steadily increased to US$27.5 billion by 2025, a record high. This figure signifies a significant enhancement in Cambodia's ability to cope with external economic risks, with current reserve levels sufficient to cover approximately eight months of import needs for goods and services.
Dr. Hong Vanna, a renowned economist at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, stated that the current scale of foreign exchange reserves fully demonstrates the Cambodian government's excellent fiscal management capabilities and strong international payment strength. This not only ensures the smooth progress of the country's international procurement efforts but also instills confidence in domestic and foreign traders and investors, providing a strong boost.
Dr. Hong Vanna further emphasized that sufficient international reserves are a core indicator of the healthy operation of the national economy and directly relate to the country's credit rating in the global market. "Without sufficient funds to support import and export turnover, it will be difficult to demonstrate the soundness of the national finances," he pointed out. Maintaining a reserve level sufficient to support eight months of import payments is crucial to consolidating international trust in the Cambodian economy.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) definition, international reserves are assets managed by national monetary authorities and readily available for international payments. Their core functions include regulating the balance of payments, stabilizing the exchange rate, and strengthening market confidence in the national currency. For developing countries like Cambodia, internationally accepted standards recommend that foreign exchange reserves meet at least three months of import needs. Cambodia's current reserve level of approximately eight months significantly exceeds this safety threshold, demonstrating its robust resilience against external economic shocks.
Looking back at the past five years, Cambodia's international foreign exchange reserves show a clear "V-shaped" rebound: in 2020, reserves exceeded US$21 billion, enough to support 13.4 months of imports; in 2021 and 2022, affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions, reserves fell back to over US$20 billion and over US$17 billion respectively; in 2023, with economic recovery, reserves rebounded to over US$19 billion; in 2024, they grew to over US$22 billion; and in 2025, they climbed to a new high of US$27.5 billion, fully demonstrating the strong resilience and growth vitality of the Cambodian economy in the post-pandemic era.
