Delivering Logistics-Driven Growth: Key Advances in Cambodia

In Phnom Penh, on April 1, 2026, the Cambodia Development Council (CDC) and EuroCham Cambodia brought together sector decision-makers at the conference titled "Delivering Logistics-Driven Growth."

Chaired by His Excellency Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and President of the National Logistics Council, this meeting unveiled lightning-fast advances and persistent bottlenecks in a key sector for the Cambodian economy. Arnaud Darc, Vice-President of EuroCham Cambodia and Director of the French-Cambodian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFC), represented the French business community there.

Sihanoukville Port on the Brink of Saturation

Sihanoukville Port recorded an absolute record in 2025 with 1.3 million twenty-foot equivalents handled, up 14.4%, and a berth occupancy rate reaching 85%, on the brink of saturation. Forecasts predict an additional 13% growth in 2026.

Three new terminals (NCT1-3), funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will come into service progressively between 2027 and 2030, while a 2026-2028 master plan aims to turn it into a regional hub, with NCT4-6 terminals planned after 2030.

A major challenge persists: 40% of Cambodian exports still transit through Vietnamese ports due to insufficient connectivity. JICA and Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol intend to repatriate these strategic flows.

Revolution in Express Logistics

In 18 months of partnership with customs, EuroCham Cambodia achieved spectacular results, considered a replicable model. Paperwork has melted away by 80%, dropping from 22 A4 pages per import to a simplified, digitized process. Same-day clearance now covers 16% of shipments, up from 1% before. A pre-arrival clearance pilot, successfully tested by DHL from Italy and Australia, saw declarations approved before planes landed. DHL is directly connected to the automated customs system (ASYCUDA).

Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol publicly endorsed this approach for other sectors.

Techo International Airport and Freight Hub

Opened on October 9, 2025 after a $2.3 billion US investment, Techo International Airport (TIA), with a capacity of 15 million passengers per year and classified 4F, is betting on its freight hub. Freight Terminal 1, with an annual capacity of 200,000 tons, has been operational since September 2025; Freight Terminal 2 (400,000 tons) will follow in September 2026.

Land is reserved for DHL (8 hectares) and FedEx/United Parcel Service (UPS). A special economic zone of 300 to 500 hectares will emerge nearby.

Singapore Airlines recently launched an Airbus A350 flight to TIA. A Phnom Penh-Techo Airport tramway study, entrusted to a British firm, is underway. The US Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is considering $100 million in funding for the extension.

Funan Techo Canal: Fourth Corridor to Sihanoukville

Section 2 of the Funan Techo Canal will be inaugurated on April 11, 2026 by Prime Minister Hun Manet. The first 21-kilometer section, under construction for 36 months, complements existing corridors: road, rail, highway, and now canal to Sihanoukville.

Funan Techo

Delays are explained by longer-than-expected loan approvals and a route realignment to limit impacts on populations.

National Single Window: Systemic Urgency

The sub-decree establishing the National Single Window (NSW) dates back to 2023, but difficulties persist. Operators juggle between two separate platforms, without end-to-end processing or publication of license issuance deadlines.

This blockage, highlighted by EuroCham Cambodia and the Deputy Prime Minister, tops the priorities. Sun Chanthol has assigned staff to work with EuroCham and commits to summoning reluctant officials via his authority in the National Logistics Council.

Concrete Directives from Sun Chanthol

The Deputy Prime Minister ordered a letter to Prime Minister Hun Manet, accompanied by a quantified summary of logistics successes before and after reforms. Sihanoukville Port must provide its performance data.

A collaborator from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) is assigned to EuroCham Cambodia for this report. Sun Chanthol will impose his National Single Window reform and demand the expansion of the Sihanoukville logistics complex to 50 hectares to gain special economic zone status.

Figures That Command Respect

Cambodia leads Asia-Pacific in greenfield foreign direct investments (1st rank, per FT Intelligence 2025; 9th worldwide). The CDC approved 230 qualified investment projects in 2025 for $10 billion (+52%).

Container dwell time at Sihanoukville is 4 days (2.6 in Singapore). Techo's freight hub will reach 600,000 tons by 2027.

These customs reforms reduce costs and delays for importers and exporters. FDI attractiveness encourages implantation or expansion. Infrastructure (TIA, canal, port) opens opportunities in construction and public works, engineering, and services. The express logistics model proves the effectiveness of public-private partnerships.

Conference Participants