Paving the Way for EU Exports: A Strategic Response to Trade Challenges from Cambodia

Recent reports from the Cambodian production base reveal a significant achievement for the company. After careful preparation and timely action from the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce, on February 26, 2025, the company became the first in Cambodia to receive the official export certification, including an REX number, enabling the legal export of wood flooring to the European Union. This milestone was followed by completing the company’s first export order to the EU on March 13, solidifying its position in the international market.

The domestic wood flooring industry faced a major challenge in May 2024 when the European Union launched an anti-dumping investigation into Chinese wood flooring products. This created considerable uncertainty in the market. However, the company’s proactive response and strategic foresight helped mitigate the impact of this crisis. Quickly forming a dedicated legal team, the company responded to investigation inquiries and, through keen market insights, developed an early-warning plan to prepare for the worst-case scenario. In parallel, the company pushed forward its plan to transfer orders to the Cambodian facility, ensuring that European clients fully understood the company’s manufacturing capabilities and product quality. The company invited key customers from France, Poland, Sweden, and Austria to tour the Cambodian factory to showcase these strengths.

Kelaiwood meticulously organized sample production and pricing to ensure a smooth transition, with each step carefully executed. When the preliminary anti-dumping decision came in January 2025, it indicated an average tariff of 46.7%, but the final ruling on March 27 reduced this to 35.2%. Despite this setback, the company had already positioned itself for success. On February 26, 2025, it became the first Cambodian company to officially obtain export authorization for EU-bound wood flooring. Just weeks later, the company fulfilled its first export order to the EU, demonstrating resilience and business acumen.

In the face of ever-evolving global trade dynamics, Kelaiwood has set a remarkable example for the Chinese wood flooring industry by responding with agility, strategic foresight, and strong leadership. As it moves forward, Kelaiwood remains committed to delivering top-tier products and services, continuously innovating and expanding its reach to serve customers around the world.