The European Chamber of Commerce is unaware of any impact on Cambodia’s maritime trade arising from its military conflict with Thailand.

“EuroCham Cambodia is closely monitoring the security situation along the Thai–Cambodian border as well as maritime developments in the Gulf of Thailand,” says  Gabriele Faja, the chamber’s chairman.

In a statement released on December 16, the tenth day of renewed fighting between the two countries, Faja notes “serious concerns raised by international partners regarding potential disruptions to trade corridors”.

But “based on consultations with our transport, logistics, and supply-chain members, EuroCham is not aware of any confirmed obstructions or operational issues affecting the movement of goods to and from Cambodia at this time, including maritime transit, port access and docking, cargo handling, and onward trucking.”

No disruptions ‘so far’

Faja says EuroCham members “have not reported disruptions so far” and that “fuel supply and pricing will be closely monitored as the situation evolves”.

“Thai public communications and reporting have referenced the designation of a ‘high-risk area’ and the tightening of controls relating to Thai-flagged vessels,” he notes.

But they “have emphasized that such measures are not presented as a general closure or blockade affecting third-country shipping”.

Resilient logistics

Cambodia is home to the port of Sihanoukville, one of the busiest in the Gulf of Thailand, which is also shared by Malaysia and Vietnam as well as Thailand. 

According to Faja, “Cambodia’s logistics sector has demonstrated resilience and adaptability in managing disruption risks, including through route diversification and operational adjustments.

“EuroCham commends the efforts of logistics operators, carriers, forwarders, and supply-chain professionals working to maintain the continuity of transportation of essential goods.”

‘Unnecessary and cruel escalation'

The announcement follows a December 15 letter from the American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia to US charge d’affaires Bridgette Walker expressing “urgent concern” over Thai military threats.

In the letter, AmCham Cambodia president Casey Barnett refers to “Thai military proposals to block and monitor shipments of fuel and other supplies to Cambodia as well as to declare the territorial waters around Cambodian ports as a ‘high-risk area’.

“A blockade of fuel would have devastating consequences for the American families and businesses in Cambodia,” he writes, adding that the high-risk designation “will make insurance and business costs unaffordable”.

The Thai threats, reportedly made by the Royal Thai Navy during a televised media briefing on December 14, are ”an unnecessary and cruel escalation of the conflict, placing immense suffering on the civilian population”, Barnett says.

‘Deep concern’

“We would be grateful if you could convey our deep concern to the US government as well as the Thai government.”

The EuroCham announcement notes that under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, “ships of all states enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea, subject to applicable international rules”.

The prime ministers of Cambodia and Thailand signed a ceasefire agreement in July and a joint declaration in October at meetings in Kuala Lumpur hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim with the support of US President Donald Trump.

But following renewed border clashes on December 7, Thailand has launched multiple F-16 airstrikes deep into Cambodia – notwithstanding Trump’s renewed appeal for a ceasefire in calls with the Cambodian and Malaysian leaders on December 12.

Thailand’s military halted cross-border trade via land crossings between Cambodia and Thailand in June and announced on December 14 that it was restricting fuel shipments by truck to Laos, suspecting that they were bound for Cambodia. Imports of fuel from Singapore and Vietnam are expected to make up any shortfall.

Meanwhile, Cambodian consumers have been largely boycotting Thai petrol station operator PTT Public Co Ltd and other Thai businesses for several months.

Photo: Port of Sihanoukville, Cambodia.