Shipments moving through Cambodia’s largest port in Preah Sihanouk province are up 15 per cent, according to the latest data. Officials attributed the rise to economic recovery gaining a foothold in Cambodia and abroad.

The figures released yesterday on the Sihanoukville autonomous deep sea port show that the total volume of cargo shipments stood at about 1.5 million tonnes over the first half of this year, compared with a little more than 1.3 million tonnes in the same period of 2012.

“Frankly speaking, the growth rate is really high compare to previous years,” said Chea Sambath, chief of planning and marketing at the port. “This year’s figure is really good. It highlights the fact that the economy, regionally as well as the global economy, is improving. That’s why we see demand up,” he said.

From January to June, total export volume leapt 33.3 per cent to nearly 350,000 tonnes. On a small scale, import volume also increased, rising 10.8 per cent to about 1.2 million tonnes, compared to nearly 1.1 tonnes in the same period last year.

The Sihanouville port is still the main launching pad for long-haul shipments of garment products, Cambodia’s biggest industry. Nearly 90 per cent of the clothing and footwear leaves from the port, destined mainly for European and US markets.

On July 9, the International Monetary Fund said in an update to its World Economic Outlook that growth in Cambodia’s largest trade partner, the United States, is forecast to rise from 1.75 per cent in 2013 to 2.75 percent in 2014.