Despite the US remaining the primary market for Cambodian textile and garment exports, the country experienced a significant drop in apparel exports during the initial four months of 2023. Cambodia's apparel exports to the US amounted to $643.886 million, accounting for 26.50% of the country's total exports worth $2,807.546 million during this period. 

However, this figure represents a substantial 50.32% decline compared to the corresponding period in 2022. In the first four months of 2022, Cambodia exported garments worth $1,497.387 million, while the figures for January to April in 2021, 2020, and 2019 were $1,097.180 million, $977.303 million, and $819.210 million, respectively. 

Analyzing the product breakdown, trousers and shorts emerged as the leading apparel exports, generating $230.292 million and constituting 31.39% of the total garment exports. Jerseys followed with $122.014 million (16.63%), shirts with $67.086 million (9.14%), baby wear with $47.581 million (6.48%), T-shirts with $43.340 million (5.91%), nightwear with $33.623 million (4.58%), and dresses with $31.846 million (4.34%). 

While the US continues to be Cambodia's largest export market for textiles and garments, the notable decline in apparel exports raises concerns for the industry's performance in 2023.