Cambodia’s trade volume with foreign countries has climbed 15 percent in the first quarter of 2014, despite the internal conflict between the ruling and opposition parties over last July’s election results remaining unsolved.

Cambodia’s total trade turnover reached 4.46 billion USD during the January-March period, a year-on-year surge of 15 percent, according to figures released by the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce on April 22.

Of the amount, the country earned 1.99 billion USD from its exports, up 19 percent year-on-year, while it spent 2.47 billion USD in total purchasing goods from abroad, a 12 percent yearly hike.

The country’s main trading partners are European countries, the US, China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Garments made up more than 80 percent of the country’s total exports.

Commerce Ministry spokesman Ken Ratha said the growth in trade volume, amid the continued political row, was thanks to good relations and cooperation between Cambodia and its trade partners.

Meanwhile, Laos’ export turnover reached about 1.1 billion USD in the first six months of this fiscal year, up 25 percent compared to the same period last year. Imports exceeded 1.9 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 70 percent, the Vientiane Times reported on April 23.

Inflation in the reviewed period stood at 6.27 percent, exceeding last year’s rate which recorded 4.85 percent.

Food items and non-alcoholic drinks were the main drivers of this year’s high rate of inflation, according to the Lao news agency KPL.

The Lao economy is projected to grow between 7.6-7.8 percent for this fiscal year while per capita income is expected to rise to 1,692 USD.-VNA