The Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, Cambodia's largest shipping facility, reported a 13 percent rise in cargo shipments in the first three months of this year, a port's data showed Thursday.

Some 862,380 tons of goods had been transported through the port during the January-March period this year, up 13 percent from 759,900 tons over the same period last year, the data said.

Cargos imported into Cambodia included garment raw materials, autos, construction materials, machinery, steel, steam coal, petroleum, and daily consuming products, while items exported from Cambodia were mainly garment and shoe products, and some agricultural products such as milled rice, dry rubber, corn and cassava.

Port's deputy director general Ma Sunhuot said the remarkable growth was thanks to better economic situation and business climate even though post-election dispute remained unsolved.

"We have seen an increase in the exports of garments and milled rice in the first quarter of this year," he said. "On the import side, there was a surge in construction materials and petroleum."

Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, situated some 230 km southwest of the capital Phnom Penh, is the main economic corridor linking Cambodia and the globe. The state-run port is among several state- owned enterprises that have been planned to list on the Cambodian Stock Exchange.