Below is a list of our Emerging Asia Publications for the last 5 months. If you are looking for reports older than 5 months please email info@pantheonmacro.com, or contact your account rep
Please use the filters on the right to search for a specific date or topic.
Two-way trade in the Philippines was picking up steam before the war
CPI FORECASTS UP ACROSS THE BOARD IN EM ASIA
- …BUT FROM LOW STARTING POINTS; ONLY SBV SET TO HIKE
- In one line: Q1 consumption remains firm.
- In one line: Fundamental downward pressure on the THB is building rapidly.
- Thailand’s customs trade deficit in February was a big miss, but this has been deteriorating for a while.
- The oil-price spike will likely see a current account deficit of -1.5% this year, after +3.1% in 2025.
- The BoT won’t mind if the THB falls further though, as it rightly has been more worried about strength.
Iran war, unsurprisingly, hits India's PMIs immediately
- India’s PMIs have been softening for a while, but the Iran-war hit is notable, especially in manufacturing…
- …The complete PMIs for Q1 back our downbeat call for GDP of 6.1%; the long-term outlook is unfazed.
- Taiwanese retail sales—ex-vehicles—are better than they look; the war is unlikely to hurt tourist inflows.
- Singapore’s combined January-to-February CPI suggests that inflation is still ticking up in Q1...
- …We note an alarming increase in health insurance premiums, which is being reined in for Q2.
- The Middle East energy crisis looks set to push inflation above 2% in Q2.
Inflation broadly accelerating in Singapore in Q1
- In one line: Infrastructure sectors carrying more of the weight alone; overall momentum still solid.
- Last week’s fuel-price gains in the Philippines and the firmer oil outlook will lead to 4%-plus inflation…
- … A hike is now on the table for April, but it would be rash, given the more forgiving backdrop this time.
- The start of modest fuel-price rises in Thailand will help lift the economy out of outright deflation.
Malaysian headline export growth in Q1 still up from Q4, despite February miss
Inflation at bay, for now
- Malaysian current average Q1 expor ts are growing by 15.1%, meaning Q1 GDP will likely be strong…
- …Inflation was held at bay in Februar y but will now likely rise, because of higher crude oil prices.
- Taiwan’s central bank left rates on hold, and seems to be too sanguine about growth in 2026.
- Oil at $150 should pose no urgent CPI risk to India; fiscally, it’s better placed to manage this shock…
- …Main threat would be higher imported inflation from late-2026, as the CA deficit would blow up.
- Indonesia could see an 11% rise in subsidised fuel prices this year—more than in 2022—with $150 oil.
Electronic exports in Singapore continue to boom
- Bank Indonesia held rates yesterday, as expected, and no longer pledged to find room for more cuts.
- We lower our estimate for India’s current account deficit this year to -3.0% of GDP, due to the oil crisis.
- Singapore’s non-oil domestic exports for January- to-February point to 49.7% growth in electronics.
- In one line: Big short-term downside risks to the deficit due to the Iran war.
Iran war forcing an upgrade to our 2026 India WPI forecast to 5%
- Introducing our regional activity heat maps, giving a snapshot of cyclical growth stage and momentum…
- …They show that major exporters continue to outperform domestic-oriented peers in early 2026.
- Indian inflation rose further in February on food prices; our 4.0% view for 2026 remains appropriate.
- In one line: Still mainly a food story, but Middle East pressures should surface in the March data.
