Despite the signing of a peace agreement under the auspices of Donald Trump, Thailand maintains the closure of its border with Cambodia.
Officials said on Wednesday, October 29, that cross-border trade between Thailand and Cambodia plummeted 99.9 percent in September, as the closure of checkpoints along the conflict-affected border entered its fifth month.
Cambodia must meet Thailand's four conditions
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet shake hands next to US President Donald Trump during the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday, October 26, 2025. (Reuters photo)
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul denied rumors that border crossings would reopen on November 1st, insisting that Thailand will not resume trade until Cambodia has:
- He withdrew his heavy weapons.
- The territory has been cleared of mines
- Cooperated in the fight against fraud networks (call centers)
- Re-established diplomatic relations.
Anutin and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet signed a broad ceasefire agreement on October 26 in Malaysia, in the presence of US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
See: Thailand–Cambodia: Trump celebrates peace between the two neighboring countries
However, the border remains closed.
"People keep saying we'll reopen soon, but Thailand won't give in," Anutin said.
"Cambodia must first take concrete steps before reopening can even be considered."
Cross-border trade has virtually ground to a halt.
The market in Chong Chom, in Surin province, has remained calm and deserted since the outbreak of border conflicts in late July 2025.
According to Arada Fueangthong, Director General of the Department of Foreign Trade, total cross-border and transit trade in September amounted to 141.7 billion baht ($3.8 billion), down 4.7 percent year on year.
Exports fell by 12.4% to 74.9 billion baht, while imports rose by 5.9% to 66.8 billion baht, leaving a surplus of 8.2 billion baht.
Trade with Cambodia has practically collapsed to just 11 million baht.
Trade with neighboring countries contrasts sharply
Export from Thailand. Illustration: The Nation Thailand
Trade with Myanmar fell by 40% due to restrictions on fuel exports and increased import controls by Naypyitaw (the capital of Myanmar).
Trade with Malaysia and Laos increased by 4.7% and 8.8% respectively.
Cross-border trade declined overall by 22.2% year-on-year in September, marking its fifth consecutive month of decline.
Diesel, concentrated latex and refined oils were the main products exported by Thailand.
From January to September, cross-border and transit trade reached 1,480 billion baht, up 7.7 percent year on year, with exports increasing by 5.4 percent and imports by 10.8 percent, resulting in a surplus of 196.9 billion baht.
Regional transit remains stable despite the border crisis
Cranes and shipping containers at Bangkok's port. Photo: Bangkok Post.
Transit trade, which includes goods transported via neighboring countries to third markets, increased by 14.2% in September to reach 81.6 billion baht.
Exports via Singapore jumped 60.7%, while shipments to Vietnam increased by 31.3% and those to China by 9.9%.
The export categories that experienced the strongest growth were telephones and accessories (+231,928%), computers (+57.6%) and hard drives (+105.5%).
Despite strong growth in regional transit trade, the collapse of Cambodian border trade has underscored the profound impact of current political and security tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
- Thailand maintains its border closure with Cambodia despite the peace agreement.
- Trade between the two countries collapsed by 99.9% in September.
- Anutin demands four conditions before any reopening: disarmament, demining, cooperation and resumption of diplomatic relations.
See also:
Thailand-Cambodia conflict: areas banned from travel as of October 21, 2025
Hard blow for cybercriminals in Cambodia and Burma
Cambodia's Call Center Hell: South Korean Man Tortured to Death
Thailand at the UN: "Cambodia lies, provokes and violates the ceasefire"
Thailand – Cambodia: Civilians sacrificed to protect call centers?
Source: Khaosod English
Prepare your trip to Thailand
Book bus, train, boat in Thailand
Manage your money while traveling with Wise
Tailor-made travel with Evaneos
If our news, tourist or cultural information has been useful to you and you would like to thank us:
You can follow us on:
Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook , Google News
Or install our application:
Install the All Thailand app on your smartphone
⚠️ Cryptocurrencies carry risks: Only invest amounts you are prepared to lose.
1 comment
Often in conflict of opinion with politicians (ideologies of all stripes and leaders), this time I am 1000% behind Anutin in his reasoning and his determination to maintain a firm attitude towards Cambodia by keeping the border closed.
I hope he will keep this commitment in the long term, because it is likely to be a long, very long time before the Cambodian leaders lift a finger to clear the border and especially to close the fraudulent call centers that they run in agreement with the official police militias and the essentially Chinese mafia groups…
And if this border has to remain closed indefinitely, then so be it!
After all, and according to the economic analysis in this article, it appears that Thailand doesn't lose much economically speaking…
Cambodia is not a key partner that could jeopardize the Kingdom's GDP, as Thailand has other, far more interesting and productive partners, both in terms of imports and exports…
Anutin should show a little imagination and diplomacy towards certain worthy neighbors, to strengthen their regional economic partnership alliances and enter into talks within ASEAN in order to isolate Cambodia economically and politically in the long term…
Only a united, multi-Asian, or even international, pressure can bring down this thoroughly corrupt regime…!!!!