PHNOM PENH — Cambodia’s e-commerce sector is undergoing a digital revolution, with QR code payments and mobile connectivity fueling rapid transformation. E-commerce revenue is on track to surge past $1.78 billion by 2025, according to the March 2025 iTrade Bulletin published by the Ministry of Commerce.

QR code payments dominate the landscape, accounting for 47.15 percent of transactions, far outpacing cash at 26.5 percent, mobile money transfers at 13.3 percent, and other methods at 13.05 percent. Leading the digital finance charge is ABA Bank with a commanding 46.89 percent market share, followed by Acleda at 30.9 percent and Wing Bank at 17.02 percent.

Cambodian shoppers are increasingly turning to Facebook, TikTok, Khmer24, and Taobao for fashion, beauty, and food products—often making purchases at least once a month, typically spending between $11 and $50. The country’s digital connectivity is sky-high, with 21.9 million mobile and internet subscriptions in 2024, and social platforms like Facebook and TikTok driving both communication and consumer behavior.

In 2024 alone, Cambodia logged 11.65 million Facebook users and 9.96 million TikTok users, underscoring the platforms’ outsized influence on the nation’s online economy.

The telecom sector also saw strong momentum, with mobile subscriptions reaching 21.9 million and internet users hitting 20 million—up 3.9% from 2023—and generating $205.2 million in revenue. At the same time, Cambodia’s imports of electrical and electronic equipment hit $1.951 billion, a 23.7% jump year-on-year. Mobile phones led the charge with $604.6 million in imports, driven by a growing appetite for smartphones.

Zooming out, the ASEAN e-commerce market is projected to expand from $116.36 billion in 2024 to $137.24 billion in 2025. Cambodia, while a smaller player, contributes 1.3 percent to the regional total—reflecting the country’s growing stake in Southeast Asia’s digital economy.

In 2024, e-commerce contributed $1.51 billion—or 6.68 percent—to Cambodia’s GDP.

But despite the boom, challenges persist. Fraud, poor product quality, and high delivery fees continue to trouble consumers. Logistics bottlenecks, patchy digital infrastructure, and limited digital literacy—especially in rural areas—are holding back broader adoption, according to the E-commerce 2024 Report.

The report also flags high transportation costs and limited warehousing as major constraints. Yet, the tide is turning, with new investments in digital tracking, the rise of third-party logistics providers, and regulatory reforms beginning to improve delivery efficiency and ecosystem reliability.

Consumers now demand speed and reliability—favoring logistics providers with physical branches, in-town delivery under an hour, and cross-province shipping within two days. Vireak Buntham currently leads the pack in logistics services.

To support this growing sector, the Cambodian government has rolled out a series of policies to bolster the digital economy: a legal framework for e-commerce trust marks, streamlined VAT registration for digital businesses, roadmaps for digital literacy and governance, and a comprehensive e-commerce law—all aimed at creating a safer, more competitive, and inclusive online marketplace.