2026年7月8日 ASEAN Express

ASEAN Economic Special Report (Total 300 articles)

Embrace the New Southbound Policy and look towards ASEAN's economic pulse. CNA's "Southeast Asia Economic Information Network" selects multiple financial headlines from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and other countries daily for you. Whether it's new government policies, industry trends, or investment opportunities, we enable you to grasp key information in real-time, gain insight into the market, and seize business opportunities.

Vietnam: Fruit and Vegetable Exports to China Increase, Lychees are a Popular Seasonal Fruit

(CNA Taipei, July 8, 2026) Bilateral trade and agricultural cooperation between China and Vietnam in 2026 have shown explosive growth. Vietnam has become China's largest trading partner in ASEAN and its second-largest source of fruit and vegetable imports.

According to VNA, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports grew by 16.8% to 18% in the first half of 2026, with over 50% sold directly to the Chinese market.

Vietnam shares a border with China's Guangxi Province. Through Guangxi, Vietnam exports fruits to China, and Vietnamese lychees have become one of the most popular seasonal fruits among Chinese consumers.

Laos: Overcoming Natural Disasters and Inflation, GDP Grows 5% in First Half

(CNA Taipei, July 8, 2026) The Lao government aims to increase its economic growth rate to 5.5% by the end of 2026, building on the 5% growth achieved in the first half of this year.

Despite facing global economic uncertainty, rising inflation, and the impact of natural disasters, Laos's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) still grew by 5% in the first six months of 2026, equivalent to 199.987 trillion kip (approximately NT$290 billion), achieving 48% of the annual target.

Singapore: Real Estate Developers Required to Conduct Anti-Money Laundering Reviews Focusing on High-Risk Buyers

(CNA Taipei, July 8, 2026) Bloomberg reports that Singapore's housing regulator requires real estate developers to apply strict anti-money laundering reviews to high-risk property buyers, clarifying that most buyers do not need additional scrutiny, such as verifying the source of wealth and funds.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore's circular states that real estate developers should adopt a "risk-proportionate" approach when conducting customer due diligence. For the vast majority of property buyers, routine due diligence measures such as identity verification and background screening are sufficient.

According to the circular, high-risk property buyers include foreign politically exposed persons and individuals from jurisdictions that the Financial Action Task Force has identified as requiring counter-measures or having deficiencies in anti-money laundering supervision.

Philippines: May Unemployment Rate Estimated at 4.8%, Slightly Up from April's 4.7%

(CNA Taipei, July 8, 2026) Bloomberg reports that according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the unemployment rate in the Philippines was estimated at 4.8% in May, a slight increase from 4.7% in April.

Statistics Authority data indicates that the labor force participation rate in the Philippines was estimated at 63.8% in May, compared to 62.7% in April.

Myanmar: Promoting Green Transportation, Electric Buses Launched in Capital Naypyidaw

(CNA Taipei, July 8, 2026) An official from a Myanmar bus operating company stated on the 7th that to promote more environmentally friendly public transportation, electric bus services were officially launched in the capital, Naypyidaw, on the 6th.

According to the Road Transport Administration Department of Myanmar, as of June 2026, 40,449 electric vehicles have been registered in the Southeast Asian country, including 9 electric buses.

Malaysia: Foreign Exchange Reserves Increase to US$132.6 Billion

(CNA Taipei, July 8, 2026) Bloomberg reports that according to data released by Bank Negara Malaysia, as of June 30, foreign exchange reserves stood at 537 billion ringgit (approximately US$132.6 billion).

Malaysia's current foreign exchange reserves can cover 4.7 months of imports and are 0.9 times its short-term external debt.

Thailand: Announces 2026 as "Investment Year," Aiming for 1 Trillion Baht in Actual Foreign Investment

(CNA Taipei, July 8, 2026) Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister publicly stated that Thailand is fully promoting 2026 as an "Investment Year." The authorities have set an ambitious goal of achieving actual foreign direct investment inflows of 900 billion to 1 trillion baht (approximately US$27.5 billion to US$30.5 billion) this year.

To prevent foreign investors from "signing MOUs without investing," the Thai government has launched the Thailand Fast Pass program, which mandates that approved investment projects must disburse at least 20% of their funds within the year to facilitate high-tech transformation.

Cambodia: ADB Forecasts 4.5% Economic Growth, Non-Garment Manufacturing Share Expands

(CNA Taipei, July 8, 2026) According to the latest update of the "Asian Development Outlook" report released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Cambodia's economic growth rate is projected to reach 4.5% in 2026, with a further rebound to 5.0% expected in 2027.

Despite disruptions from border friction with Thailand and fluctuations in external commodity prices, the manufacturing sector, expected to grow by 7.3%, remains the core engine. In addition to the stabilization of traditional garment orders, the share of "non-garment manufacturing" exports, such as electronic components, tires, and furniture, has significantly expanded. Coupled with strong rice and cashew nut exports, this demonstrates Cambodia's initial success in optimizing its export structure.

Indonesia: First Half Budget Deficit Reaches 196 Trillion Rupiah, Highlighting Fiscal Pressure

(CNA Taipei, July 8, 2026) Indonesia's Minister of Finance stated that the national budget deficit in the first half of 2026 has reached 196.5 trillion Indonesian rupiah (approximately NT$356.6 billion), equivalent to 0.76% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). As government fiscal expenditures significantly exceed revenue, this Southeast Asian economic powerhouse is facing a new wave of fiscal adjustment pressure.

Data shows that Indonesia's total state revenue from January to June this year was 1,459.4 trillion rupiah, while total expenditures during the same period amounted to 1,656 trillion rupiah.

※For more information, please contact Section Chief Chang Li-chuan at (02) 2505-1180 ext. 792 or EMAIL: [email protected]

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