Cambodia

In 2024, Cambodia was not a globally significant producers of mineral commodities. Production of mineral commodities contributed 3.0% to Cambodia’s gross domestic product. Mineral commodities produced in Cambodia included cement, clay, copper, gemstones, gold, iron ore, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, steel, and stone. The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Cambodia is provided by the Law on Mineral Resource Management and Extraction of 2001 (amended in 2018), the Management of Mineral Resource Exploration License and Industrial Mining License (Sub-Decree No. 72) of 2016, and the Guideline for Granting Mineral Exploration License (Circular No. 360) of 2016. The Ministry of Mines and Energy is the primary Government agency that oversees the mineral sector, and provides environmental compliance, exploration, extraction, inspections, licensing, and policy. Most mineral commodities were produced at least in part by international private companies (Integrity Cambodia, 2016; Open Development Cambodia, 2016; Davies SM Attorneys-at-Law, 2024, p. 3; Asian Development Bank, 2025; Ministry of Mines and Energy, 2025; Facilities table). 

Data on mineral production are in the Production table (formerly table 1). The Facilities table (formerly table 2) is a list of major mineral industry facilities. More-extensive coverage of government policies and programs can be found in previous editions of this chapter in the U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook, volume III, Area Reports — International — Asia and the Pacific, which are available at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/asia-…;

• Asian Development Bank 2025, Key indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2025—Statistics by economy: Manila, Philippines, Asian Development Bank, August. (Accessed December 8, 2025, at https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/1067171/ki2025-econ….) 

• Davies SM Attorneys-at-Law, 2024, Regulatory framework of the mining industry in Cambodia: Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Davies SM Attorneys-at-Law, December 26, 21 p. (Accessed February 1, 2026, at https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=6b62ad22-6d3f-4f00-9f36-…;

• Integrity Cambodia, 2016, New regulation for mining—Sub decree on management of mineral exploration and industrial mining licenses: Integrity Cambodia, May 6. (Accessed December 8, 2025, at https://web.archive.org/web/20240306070025/https://ickhmer.wordpress.co….) 

• Ministry of Mines and Energy, 2025, Our services: Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Ministry of Mines and Energy. (Accessed December 8, 2025, at https://mme.gov.kh/.) 

• Open Development Cambodia, 2016, Extractive industries policy and administration: Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Open Development Cambodia, January 6. (Accessed December 8, 2025, at https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/topics/extractive-industries-policy….)