The two-way trade between Cambodia and Japan has hit $503 million in the first eight months this year, up 24 percent over the same period last year, the figures from the Japan External Trade Organization said Tuesday.

Cambodian exports to Japan rose 39 percent to $358 million during the January-August period this year, with garment and footwear products making up majority of the exports.

While Japanese exports to Cambodia dropped by 2 percent to $145 million compared with the same period last year. Automobiles, motorcycles and electronic products made up most of Japanese exports to Cambodia.

Japan is one of the largest aid providers to Cambodia, but trade and investment ties between the two countries are still relatively low. Last year, the bilateral trade volume was valued at $641 million, up 25 percent year-on-year.

In terms of investment, the Southeast Asian nation has received a total investment of about $300 million from Japan in banking, manufacturing industries and shopping mall development in the last three years.