Cambodian consumer spending on major domestic appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines and microwave ovens, saw a roughly 22 per cent year-on-year increase over the first six months of 2013, according to Germany-based research institute GfK.

The rise comes alongside a 20 per cent growth in volume terms and a 22 per cent increase in total dollar value in Southeast Asia, where nearly 11.5 million large appliances were sold, generating $3.4 billion.

The countries surveyed were Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

Hor Hab, Cambodia representative of South Korea-based LG, said that Cambodia’s “rising living standard and an increase in new houses being built” translated to an increase in sales of air conditioners and washing machines. But he said it was still limited to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, as a lack of grid connection and sufficient power in remote areas impeded sales of electronics.